AB  R  AH  AM      LING  0  L  > 
R-esidem  of  tin-  Umted  Suites 

EXPRESSLY POR'PAT.RIOTISM  OP  I^Tor.\'^R 


PRESIDENT    LINCOLN'S    HOME,    SPRINGFIELD,    ILLINOIS. 


THE 

PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 


A    RECORD    OP    THE 


CIVIL  AND  MILITARY  HISTORY 


OF   THE    STATE    IN    THE 


WAR  FOR  THE  UNION, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  CAMPAIGNS  IN  WHICH  ILLINOIS  SOLDIERS 
HAVE   BEEN  CONSPICUOUS, 

SKETCHES    OP    DISTINGUISHED    OFFICERS,    THE    ROLL    OP    THB 

ILLUSTRIOUS    DEAD,    MOVEMENTS    OF   THE    SANITARY 

AND    CHRISTIAN   COMMISSIONS. 


BY    T.    M.    EDDY,    D.    D., 

Editor  N.  W.  Christian  Advocate. 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH  STJLEL  ENGRAVINGS  OF  EMINENT  MEN. 


IN  TWO  VOLS.-VOL.  I. 


CHICAGO: 

CLARKE    &    CO.,    PUBLISHERS. 
1865. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865, 
BY   CLARKE   &   CO., 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  loi  r,he 
Northern  District  of  Illinois. 


.  o  ft  /f  °i 
\  Ad5 


GIFT 


Stereotyped  by 

JOHH    OOKAHAB 


•r 


TO  ILLINOIS  SOLDIERS, 

FROM   THE    LIEUTENANT    GENERAL 

TO  THE 

SMALLEST  DRUMMER-BOY: 
TO  THE 

GALLANT    LIVING   AND   HEROIC   DEAD 

WHO  HAVE  MADE  THE  STATE  ILLUSTRIOUS 
ON     EVERY     BATTLE-FIELD, 

THESE  VOLUMES 
ARE   GRATEFULLY  INSCRIBED. 


PUBLISHER'S   NOTICE. 


IT  gives  us  pleasure  to  present  to  the  public,  and  especially  to  the 
citizens  of  Illinois,  the  FIRST  volume  of  the  military  history  of 
the  State.  The  work  has  been  prepared,  we  think,  with  marked 
ability  and  impartiality,  and  the  Publishers  have  spared  no  pains  or 
expense  to  make  it  attractive  and  permanent.  As  it  is  a  record  of 
the  part  our  noble  State  has  borne  in  the  great  struggle  to  maintain 
our  glorious  government  and  to  hand  down  our  institutions  untar 
nished  and  unimpaired,  therefore  every  family  will  be  interested  to 
possess  a  copy  of  the  work.  Much  care  has  been  taken  to  combine 
incidents  and  statistics,  sketches  of  persons  and  battles,  thus  em 
bodying  the  essential  and  important  facts  of  our  great  history,  so 
that  the  work  shall  be  instructive  to  all  classes  of  readers. 

The  second  volume  will  follow  in  as  close  proximity  as  possible. 
It  will  be  issued  in  the  same  style,  so  that  when  completed  it  will 
make  an  interesting  standard  work  for  both  private  and  public 
libraries ;  containing,  as  far  as  possible,  a  complete  record  of  our 
brave  men  who  have  fallen  in  their  country's  cause. 


PREFATORY  NOTES. 


PATRIOTISM  is  the  love  of  country.  It  has  ever  been  recog 
nized  among  the  cardinal  virtues  of  true  men,  and  he  who  was 
destitute  of  it  has  been  considered  an  ingrate.  Even  among  the  icy 
desolations  of  the  far  north  we  expect  to  find,  and  do  find,  an  ardent 
affection  for  the  land  of  nativity,  the  HOME  of  childhood,  youth  and 
age.  There  is  much  in  our  country  to  create  and  foster  this  senti 
ment.  It  is  a  country  of  imperial  dimensions,  reaching  from  sea  to 
sea,  and  almost  "from  the  rivers  to  the  ends  of  the  earth."  None 
of  the  empires  of  old  could  compare  with  it  in  this  regard.  It  is 
washed  by  two  great  oceans,  while  its  lakes  are  vast  inland  seas. 
Its  rivers  are  silver  lines  of  beauty  and  commerce.  Its  grand  moun 
tain  chains  are  the  links  of  God's  forging  and  welding,  binding  to 
gether  north  and  south,  east  and  west. 

It  is  a  land  of  glorious  memories.  It  was  peopled  by  the  picked 
men  of  Europe,  who  came  hither  "not  for  wrath  but  conscience' 
sake."  Said  the  younger  Wmthrop  to  his  father,  "  I  shall  call  that 
my  country  where  I  may  most  glorify  God  and  enjoy  the  presence 
of  my  dearest  friends."  And  so  came  godly  men  and  devoted 
women,  flying  from  oppressive  statutes,  where  they  might  find 

"Freedom  to  worship  God.'' 

There  are  spots  on  the  sun,  and  the  microscope  reveals  flaws  in  bur 
nished  steel,  and  so  there  were  spots  and  flaws  in  the  early  records 
of  the  founders  of  this  land,  but  with  them  all,  our  colonial  history 
is  one  that  stirs  the  blood  and  quickens  the  pulse  of  him  who  reads. 


6  PREFATORY   NOTES. 

And  then  the  glorious  record  of  that  Revolutionary  struggle  gives 
each  American  a  solid  historic  platform  on  which  he  may  plant  his 
foot.  It  was  an  era  of  high  moral  heroism,  and  for  principle, 
against  theoretical  usurpation,  rather  than  practical  (though  of  .the 
latter  there  wanted  not  enough  to  give  to  our  fathers'  lips  a  full  and 
bitter  cup),  the  men  of  the  Revolution  drew  their  swords,  and  en 
tered  the  field  against  the  most  powerful  nation  of  the  world,  and 
fought  on  and  on,  through  murky  gloom,  until  triumph  came.  It  was 
also  an  era  of  Providential  agencies  and  deliverances,  and  each  right 
feeling  American,  realizes  that  not  more  truly  did  God  raise  up 
Moses  and  Aaron  and  lead  Israel  with  the  pillar  of  cloud  and  fire, 
than  He  raised  up  our  leaders  and  led  our  fathers.  And  reverent  is 
our  adoration,  when  we  remember  how  he  guided  the  deliberations 
of  our  Constitutional  Convention  and  poured  the  peaceful  spirit,  in 
answer  to  ascending  prayer,  down  upon  that  august  convocation 

There  are  later  memories,  when  again  measuring  strength  with 
Britain,  our  gallant  tars  showed  on  the  Sea  and  on  the  Lakes  that  the 
empire  of  the  deep  was  not  henceforth  conceded  to  the  so-called 
"  Mistress  of  the  Seas."  It  was  a  new  sensation  experienced  by 
the  old  nations,  when  the  youngest  of  them  all  dared  lift  the  glove 
of  the  power  which  "ruled  the  waves,"  and  defy  her  on  the  field  of 
her  greatest  prowess.  Yet  so  it  was,  and  the  achievements  of  De- 
catur,  McDonough,  Paul  Jones  and  Porter  gave  luster  to  our  iiavy 
to  be  brightened  by  Foote,  Farragut,  Porter,  Dahlgren  and  Worden 
in  our  own  times.  For  it  is  no  idle  boast  to  say  that  to-day  the 
United  States  floats  the  most  powerful  navy  of  the  world.  These 
and  other  memories  invest  our  land  with  sacredness,  and  commend 
it  to  the  reverent  love  of  its  sons,  native  or  adopted. 

Its  institutions  of  civil  and  religious  freedom,  guaranteeing  the 
rights  of  citizenship,  education  and  worship,  extending  the  blessings 
of  beneficent  law  silently  and  extensively  as  the  atmosphere  about 
us,  demand  our  love.  True,  one  dark  blot,  one  iron  limitation,  one 
cruel  exception  was  in  our  organization,  one  tolerated  by  our  fathers 
in  the  faith  that  it  would  soon  die,  endured  as  a  necessary  but  tran 
sient  evil,  but  which  from  toleration,  soon  claimed  protection,  from 
protection,  equality,  and  from  equality,  supremacy;  one  deplored  by 
the  good,  and  destined  to  bring  its  terrible  harvest  upon  us,  remind- 


PREFATORY   NOTES.  7 

ing  the  world  that,  as  truly  of  nations  as  of  individuals,  is  it  written 
that  whatsoever  is  sown  shall  be  reaped,  and  "  with  what  measure  ye 
mete,  shall  it  be  measured  to  you  again."  But  with  this,  there  was 
much  that  was  great  and  elevating  in  our  institutions,  so  that  with 
more  than  ancient  Roman  pride  could  the  traveler  in  far-oif  lands 
exclaim,  "I  am  an  American  citizen." 

It  is  a  land  of  innumerable  resources.  Extending  through  so 
many  parallels  of  latitude,  and  isothermal  lines,  its  soil  yields  almost 
an  infinite  variety  of  productions.  It  gives  the  fruits  and  grains  of 
ail  zones.  Within  its  bosom  lie  hid  all  minerals,  the  iron,  the  cop 
per,  vast  fields  of  coal,  the  gold,  the  silver,  the  platina,  the  quick 
silver,  while  the  very  "rock  pours  out  rivers  of  oil."  Its  forests 
are  rich  in  exhaustless  stores  of  timber,  while  its  prairies  are  the 
granaries  of  the  world. 

It  is  the  land  of  the  free  school,  the  free  press,  and  the  free  pul 
pit.  It  is  impossible  to  compute  the  power  of  this  trio.  The  free 
schools,  open  to  rich  and  poor,  bind  together  the  people  in  educa 
tional  bonds  and  in  the  common  memories  of  the  recitation-room 
and  the  play-ground,  and  how  strong  they  are,  you,  reader,  well 
know,  as  some  past  recollection  tugs  at  your  heart-strings.  The  free 
press  may  not  always  be  altogether  as  dignified  or  elevated  as  the 
more  highly  cultivated  may  desire,  but  it  is  ever  open  to  the  com 
plaints  of  the  people ;  is  ever  watchful  of  popular  rights  and  jealous 
of  class  encroachments,  and  the  highest  in  authority  know  that  it  is 
above  President  or  Senate.  The  free  pulpit,  sustained  not  by  legally 
exacted  tithes  wrung  from  an  unwilling  people,  but  by  the  free-will 
offerings  of  loving  supporters,  gathers  about  it  the  millions,  incul 
cates  the  highest  morality,  points  to  brighter  worlds,  and  when  occa 
sion  demands,  will  not  be  silent  before  political  wrongs.  Its  power, 
simply  as  an  educating  agency  can  scarcely  be  estimated.  In  this 
country  its  freedom  gives  a  competition  so  vigorous  that  it  must 
remain  in  direct  popular  sympathy.  How  strong  it  is,  the  country 
saw  when  its  voice  was  lifted  in  the  old  cry,  "  Rebellion  is  as  the 
sin  of  witchcraft."  Its  words  started  the  slumbering,  roused  the 
careless,  and  called  the  "sacramental  host,"  as  well  as  the  "men  of 
the  world  to  arms."  These  three  grand  agencies  are  not  rival  but 
supplementary,  each  doing  an  essential  work  in  public  culture. 


8  PREFATORY   NOTES. 

Ours,  above  all  others,  is  the  land  of  homes.  Local  attachment 
is  essential  to  patriotism.  Give  a  man  a  bit  of  ground  and  let  him 
build  a  house,  though  it  be  scarce  larger  than  Queen  Mab's,  and  he 
becomes  a  permanent  part  of  the  country.  He  has  something  to 
live  for,  vote  for,  fight  for.  Here  there  is  no  system  of  vast  land- 
ownerships,  with  lettings  and  sub-lettings,  but,  on  the  contrary,  the 
abundance  and  cheapness  of  land,  and  the  prevalence  of  wise 
homestead  exemptions,  give  a  large  proportion  of  the  population 
proprietary  interests.  To  all  this,  add  the  freedom  of  elective  fran 
chise,  which  invests  the  humblest  citizen  with  the  functions  of  sov 
ereignty,  and  opens  to  his  competition  the  highest  places  of  trust  and 
profit,  and  is  there  not  reason  for  loving  such  a  country?  Is  there 
not  reason  why  its  home-born  sons  should  swear  upon  its  holy  altars 
that  this  trust  received  from  their  fathers,  shall  be  transmitted,  pure 
and  whole,  to  their  children?  Is  there  not  reason  why  each  adopted 
son  should  see  that  the  land  which  gives  him  sanctuary,  refuge  and 
citizenship  shall  not  be  rent  in  twain?  Especially  that  it  shall  not  be 
divided  in  the  interest  of  class-distinctions,  of  distinction  between 
labor  and  capital,  based  upon  a  difference  of  birth  and  ancestry? 

Above  all :  When  we  assume  the  higher  doctrine  that  civil  gov 
ernment  is  divinely  appointed,  "  that  the  powers  that  be,  are  ordained 
of  God,"  and  the  maintenance  of  lawfully  established  government 
becomes  a  duty,  God,  the  King  of  Nations,  summons  us  to  prevent  its 
overthrow ;  and  He  declares  that  the  hour  when  it  is  imperiled,  the 
magistrate  shall  not  bear  the  sword  in  vain,  but  shall  be  "  the  min 
ister  of  God,  a  revenger  to  execute  wrath  upon  him  that  doeth  evil," 
and  that  they  who  rise  up  against  lawful  authority  and  "  resist  the 
power,  resist  the  ordinance  of  God,  and  they  that  resist  shall  receive 
to  themselves  damnation."*  Patriotism  then  comes  to  the  baptism 
of  Christian  duty,  and  for  the  hour  when  just  government  and  right 
eous  authority  are  periled,  the  duty  is  one  of  sternness,  and  the 
sword  of  the  magistrate  is  its  symbol. 

The  civilization  of  the  West  is  in  some  respects  peculiar.  Its 
growth  has  been  so  rapid  as  to  be  almost  incredible.  Into  it  have 
come  the  active  young  of  Eastern  and  Middle  States,  young  men 
portionless  or  desiring  a  wider  field  than  their  narrow  patrimony 

*  Romans  xiii.  1-4, 


PREFATORY    NOTES.  9 

afforded.  They  are  not  the  men  to  settle  in  quiet  dignity.  We 
know  not  who  originated  the  use  of  "push"  as  a  noun,  but  it  ex 
presses  the  characteristic  of  these  "younger  sons" — younger  but  not 
"  prodigal" — who  come  to  our  Western  States.  "Push" — they  will 
stop  for  no  obstacle  and  brook  no  difficulty.  Before  that  "push" 
forests  disappear,  prairies  are  decked  with  cultivated  beauty,  railways 
are  projected  of  length  sufficient  to  open  the  eyes  of  grave  eastern 
directors,  which  yet,  somehow,  secure  eastern  capital  for  their  con 
struction.  These  are  not  men  to  be  held  in  leading  strings,  and  kept 
in  subjection  to  effete  systems. 

The  traveler  from  the  Eastern  States,  will  find  in  each  Western 
frontier  village  the  evidences  of  highest  culture.  In  the  cabin  of 
unhewn  logs  or  "  ended"  slabs  he  will  find  music  and  painting. 
With  this,  there  is,  of  course,  the  endless  variety  of  foreign  popula 
tion.  German,  Irish,  Scandinavian  are  its  chief  elements,  though  in 
the  Northwest  there  is  a  large  infusion  of  the  genuine  English.  This 
population  must  be  fused,  and  that  work  has  been  going  on  under 
the  combined  influence  of  the  educating  trio  of  powers  above  indi 
cated,  with  the  additive  influence  of  business  and  politics. 

To  these  is  now  being  added  the  uniting  influence  of  the  WAR  FOB 
THE  UNION.  Together  are  we  all  being  "  baptized  in  the  cloud  and 
in  the  sea,"  and  we  shall  emerge  more  than  ever  ONE  PEOPLE. 

Illinois  has  full  share  of  all  Western  peculiarities.  Its  size  and* 
elements  of  material  wealth  have  long  since  caused  it  to  be  con 
ceded  that  it  was  destined  to  rank  with  the  foremost  of  the  States 
of  the  Union.  When,  therefore,  the  tocsin  of  war  was  sounded,  it 
was  proper,  it  was  natural,  that  the  nation  should  turn  its  eyes  upon 
tliis,  with  other  large  States,  and  ask,  "  What  will  Illinois  do  ?"  The 
answer  is  given  in  the  offering  of  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  million 
of  soldiers  and  untold  millions  of  money  to  the  country. 

It  is  proper  that  each  State  should,  in  some  form,  make  its  own 
record  during  the  war.  No  general  history  can  do  the  individual 
States  justice ;  nay,  no  complete,  comprehensive  history  can  be  writ 
ten  until,  at  the  end  of  the  war,  the  States  have  made  up  their  annals. 
For  these  the  Irvings,  Bancrofts  and  Prescotts  of  the  Union  must 
wait.  In  each  State  should  be  written  the  deeds  of  its  sons  ;  the 
achievements  of  its  regiments,  the  deeds  of  its  officers  and  citizen 


10  PREFATORY    NOTES. 

soldiery.  If  delayed,  much  will  be  lost ;  if  issued  at  once,  there 
cannot  be  perfect  symmetry  and  complete  fi,.ish.  Between  these 
alternatives,  it  seems  better  to  seize  the  present  and  accept  the 
artistic  sacrifice. 

When  the  proposition  was  made  to  the  author  to  undertake-  the 
preparation  of  the  present  work  he  promptly  declined.  He  had 
enough  work  upon  his  hands  to  tax  all  his  strength  and  consume  all 
Ms  time.  But  the  proposition  was  renewed  and  so  pressed  upon  him 
by  numerous  and  influential  gentlemen  whose  judgment  he  highly 
respects,  that  it  became  a  question  of  duty.  The  entire  business 
management  has  been  with  the  publishers,  the  author  declining  any 
participation  in  its  details. 

As  to  material,  of  course  all  published  works  are  procured,  re 
gardless  of  expense,  and  the  uninitiated  would  wonder  at  the  amount 
of  war  literature  from  massive  octavos  down  to  pamphlets,  already 
produced. 

His  Excellency,  Governor  Yates,  placed  at  the  author's  disposal  a 
valuable  collection  of  State  papers  and  other  documents,  and  for  his 
uniform  courtesy  the  author  renders  this  public  acknowledgment. 
Adjutant-General  Fuller  courteously  tendered  access  to  the  docu 
mentary  stores  of  his  office.  Major-General  McClernand  placed  in 
his  possession  his  full  memoranda  of  the  movements  of  his  command. 
Major-General  Hurlbut  kindly  furnished  important  information. 

Learning  that  Rev.  F.  Senour,  of  Rockibj •-!,  Illinois,  had  contem 
plated  a  similar  work  and  had  already  coll-cted  considerable  mate 
rial,  a  correspondence  was  opened,  follow  ed  by  a  personal  interview, 
resulting  in  the  transfer  to  the  writer  of  Mr.  Senour' s  MSS.,  princi 
pally  biographical  and  regimental  sketch^.  These  have  been  of 
much  service,  and  their  use  is  thus  acknowledged. 

In  a  very  few  instances  pamphlet  sketch* -s  of  single  regiments 
Tiave  been  published  and  made  available.  Tin-  *•  History  of  the  Old 
Second  Division,"  by  Wm.  Sumner  Dodge,  and  the  "  annals  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,"  by  John  Fitch,  have  afforded  valuable 
assistance.  Col.  James  Grant  Wilson's  "  Skttclu  s  of  Illinois  Officers," 
have  aided  in  personal  biography.  But  the  principal  reliance  for  regi 
mental  and  personal  sketches  has  been  uj><  i;  Hie  Adjutant-General's 
reports,  official  reports  of  commanders,  and  M  .SS.  furnished  the  author. 


PREFATORY    NOTES.  H 

Tri  giving  regimental  sketches  there  is  a  difference  in  the  space 
given.  Tli is  ra;iy  need  explanation.  There  is  a  wide  difference  in 
tho  service  rendered  by  regiments  equally  me  it  rious.  One  has 
been  1*  om  "muster"  almost  constantly  with  the  same  brigade  and 
divisi  >ii,  whilj  another  has  been  on  detached  service,  or  thrown  from 
divi  ion  to  division,  from  one  department  to  another. 

T!i  same  principle  will  explain  the  difference  in  personal  notices. 
One  officer  has  performed  service  so  varied  in  kind  and  fiel  i  that 
airy  j.ist  notice  requires  much  detail — another  has  served  as  well,  as 
bravely,  but  his  career  has  been  with  one  corps  or  division. 

There  has  been  a  difference  also  in  accessible  materials  which  no 
industry  could  prevent.  The  history  of  very  few  regiments  .is  yet 
completed,  and  among  the  most  difficult  to  reach,  the  author  has 
found  the  regiments  out  of  service.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the 
work  is  yet  incomplete,  and  that  for  regiments  with  scanty  mention 
there  is  ample  record  in  store. 

Much  regimental  history  is  found  in  the  record  of  campaigns, 
battles  and  sieges.  Indeed  it  is  such  as  is  the  most  satisfactory. 
You  find  a  regiment,  as  for  instance  the  13th  at  Chickasaw  Bayou, 
or  the  19th  at  Stone  River,  and  what  special  record  does  it  need  to 
tell  its  gallantry? 

Illinois  troops  have  seldom  been  brigaded  together,  at  least  this 
was  so  early  in  the  war.  This  adds  to  the  labor  of  the  historian 
and  prevents  that  unity  which  is  desirable.  From  the  manner  in 
which  the  regiments  were  distributed  it  has  not  been  practicable  to 
treat  them  in  numerical  order. 

Furthermore,  in  the  preparation  of  regimental  sketches,  the  author 
has  followed  very  closely  the  authorities  before  him,  editing  rather 
than  preparing  them,  Henco  they  sometimes  seem  bald  and  rugged, 
but  there  was  only  space  for  the  rugged  statement  of  facts. 

Care  has  been  taken  to  secure  accuracy,  and  corrections  have  been 
made  at  much  expense,  subsequently  to  stereotyping — in  some  in 
stances  chapters  canceled  and  rewritten  on  receiving  later  or  more 
satisfactory  authorities  ;  and  yet,  in  such  a  work,  it  is  too  much  to 
hope  that  entire  accuracy,  especially  in  names  and  dates,  has  b  >  n 
secured.  Proper  names  are  the  terror  of  printers  and  proof-readers 
and  the  vexation  of  authors.  "  What's  in  a  name  ?"  Much,  and  no 


12  PREFATORY    NOTES. 

man  wishes  to  see  his  deeds  assigned  to  some  respectable  person  of 
whom  he  has  no  knowledge. 

The  lists  of  killed  and  wounded  are  not  given.  In  the  case  of 
regiments  and  batteries  yet  in  the  field,  the  present  publication 
would,  alas !  be  premature.  In  the  regiments  mustered  out,  the 
casualty  reports  of  the  Adjutant's  office  are  not  brought  down  to 
date  of  expiration  of  service,  and  to  have  secured  them  from  the 
officers  would  have  demanded  a  delay  disappointing  and  vexatious 
to  patrons.  It  has  therefore  been  thought  best — necessary  indeed— 
to  defer  such  publication  until  the  second  volume  shall  appear. 
Efforts  were  made  to  prevent  this,  but  they  would  have  been  suc 
cessful  only  by  further  delay. 

The  reader  will  be  struck  with  the  difference  of  space  assigned 
the  campaigns  of  the  West  and  those  of  the  East,  but  the  reason  is 
clear.  These  volumes  do  not  profess  to  be  a  complete  history  of  the 
war,  but  of  the  work  of  Illinois  in  the  war.  It  has  so  happened 
that  most  of  the  Illinois  troops  have  been  in  the  West,  and  until 
the  recent  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville  and  the  capture  of 
Savannah  and  Charleston,  we  have  had  but  few  of  them  on  the 
Potomac,  Shenandoah,  the  James,  or  the  coast  of  the  Carolinus. 
How  could  the  record  of  our  men  be  written  without  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Corinth,  the  Hatchie,  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga,  Mission  Ridge  and  Lookout  Mountain  ?  They  were 
there  !  It  was  absolutely  necessary,  either  to  sketch  the  campaigns 
at  once,  or  to  go  over  them  again  and  again  with  the  several  regi 
ments.  We  have,  for  instance,  given  much  space  to  Donelson  and 
Shiloh.  How  could  that  be  avoided  when  so  many  from  Illinois 
fought  those  battles ;  when  Grant,  and  McClernand,  and  Hurlburt 
were  the  master  spirits,  and  Wallace  poured  out  his  life  ? 

Here  is  made  a  personal  acknowledgment.  In  the  midst  of 
pressing  cares  and  overwork,  the  health  of  the  author  threatened  to 
give  way  so  seriously,  as  to  peril  the  completion  of  the  first  volume 
months  beyond  the  promised  time.  In  this  emergency  he  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  secure  the  assistance  of  Mr.  George  Upton,  now  one 
of  the  Chicago  Tribune  staff,  a  gentleman  who,  as  reporter  was 
with  the  Western  army  in  its  early  campaigns,  and  is  familiar  with 
military  movements.  Mr.  Upton's  assistance  has  been  of  great 


PREFATORY    NOTES.  13 

value,  lightening  the  author's  labors  at  a  time  when  they  were  pros 
trating  him. 

By  a  Providential  coincidence,  a  former  Illinois  lawyer  is  Com 
mander-in-chief  of  our  Army  and  Navy,  and  the  former  Colonel  of 
the  21st  Illinois  Infantry  is,  as  Lieutenant  General,  in  immediate 
command  of  our  armies.  The  former  has  passed  through  four  years 
of  an  eventful  administration,  and  having  been  proven  by  the  peo 
ple,  has  been  re-comrnissioned.  The  nation  has  recognized  in  him 
a  divinely  chosen  leader,  and  believes,  that  with  all  his  liability  to 
mistake,  the  President  has  been  divinely  directed.  It  was  a  sublime 
moment  when  that  tall  form  was  seen  on  the  platform  of  the  car  as 
the  train  was  about  to  carry  him  from  his  quiet  home  in  Springfield 
to  the  cares  and  perils  which  awaited  him,  and  the  President  elect, 
with  choked  utterance,  asked  his  old  friends  to  pray  for  him !  So 
they  did.  It  seemed  proper  to  follow  our  Illinois  citizen  with  some 
particularity,  until  he  became  actually  the  Nation's  Chief  Magistrate. 

Our  scarcely  less  distinguished  fellow-citizen,  the  Lieutenant- 
General,  merits  ampler  notice  than  has  yet  been  given  him.  But 
the  time  for  it  is  not  yet.  When  time  shall  have  fully  tested  his 
plans  and  his  generalship  will  be  the  hour  of  his  record. 

This  volume  has  brought  down  the  history  of  the  State  in  the 
war  to  the  close  of  1864,  and  the  close  of  the  administration  of  Gov 
ernor  Yates.  It  was  providential  that  a  man  with  his  spirit  and  ac 
tivity  was  in  the  chair  executive.  He  was  as  fully  committed  to  free 
dom  as  against  slavery,  nor  did  he  ever  falter  in  his  position.  He 
stood  as  an  iron  pillar,  when  locally  in  a  minority,  and  waited  for  the 
day  when  truth  should  triumph.  As  Governor  he  was  the  soldier's 
friend.  On  the  field  he  went  with  them  under  fire,  used  every  pos 
sible  exertion  to  forward  them  sanitary  supplies,  to  bring  the 
wounded  into  hospitals  and  to  their  homes.  The  soldier's  wife  or 
widow  could  secure  audience  when  officers  were  turned  away.  It 
was  no  wonder  that  when  his  official  term  as  governor  expired  that 
so  strong  a  popular  demand  was  made  for  his  election  to  another 
position  of  eminence.  His  messages  and  proclamations,  so  far  as 
they  bear  on  the  war,  are  fully  given,  for  they  indicate  the  State 
history. 

His  successor  is  a  gallant  officer  of  the  Union,  wounded  on  more 


14:  PREFATORY    NOTES. 

than  one  fluid,  an  ardent  patriot  and  abl  administrator.  His  official 
doings  are  not  before  the  reader  as  yet,  but  there  have  been  enough 
to  foreshadow  a  wise  and  patriotic  administration.  In  Richard  J. 
Oglesby,  Illinois  lias  a  trustworthy  leader. 

At  the  termination  of  four  years  of  war,  is  Illinois  exhausted  and 
desponding?  Cun  it  afford  to  go  on  i*  It  has  given  answer  ts  to 
what  it  meant  to  do  in  the  popular  elections  of  the  autumn  of  1864  ! 
The  purpose  of  the  people  is  unalterable  to  restore  the  authority  of 
the  general  government  and  to  maintain  the  federal  Union.  As  to 
"exhaustion,"  a  few  facts  presented  in  Governor  Yates  s  las  mes 
sage  should  be  conclusive  answer. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  war,  we  have  prospered  beyond  all  former 
precedents.  Notwithstanding  nearly  two  hundred  thousand  of  the 
most  athletic  and  vigorous  of  our  population  have  been  withdrawn 
from  the  field  of  production,  the  area  of  land  now  under  cultivation 
is  greater  than  at  any  former  period,  and  the  census  of  1865  will  ex 
hibit  an  astounding  increase  in  every  department  of  material  indus 
try  and  advancement ;  in  a  great  increase  of  agricultural,  manufac 
turing  and  mechanical  wealth,  in  new  and  improved  modes  for  pro 
duction  of  every  kind;  in  the  substitution  of  machinery  for  the 
manual  labor  withdrawn  by  the  war ;  in  the  universal  activity  of 
business  in  all  its  branches ;  in  the  rapid  growth  of  our  cities  and 
villages  ;  in  the  bountiful  harvests,  and  in  unexampled  material  pros 
perity,  prevailing  on  every  hand ;  while  at  the  same  time  the  educa 
tional  institutions  have  in  no  way  declined.  Our  colleges  and 
schools  of  every  class  and  grade  are  in  the  most  flourishing  condi 
tion  ;  our  benevolent  institutions,  State  and  private,  are  maintained ; 
and,  in  a  word,  our  prosperity  is  as  complete  and  ample  as  though 
no  tread  of  armies  or  beat  of  drum  had  been  heard  in  our  borders." 

Surely  these  are  not  the  ordinary  indices  of  exhaustion  !  As  to 
resources  for  the  future  struggle  the  resources  of  the  State  will  meet 
each  legitimate  call.  Illustrative  of  this  are  some  additional  para 
graphs  from  the  same  document : 

"  The  physical  resources  of  a  State  are  the  foundation  of  all  others. 
They  make  it  great  or  little.  They  shape  its  destiny.  They  even 
affect  its  moral  and  religious  character.  History  teaches  this  truth. 
All  the  great  nations  of  ancient  and  modern  times  demonstrate  it. 


PREFATORY    NOTES.  16 

Egypt,  Syria,  Greece,  Rome ;  Great  Britain,  France,  the  United 
States,  are  so  many  proofs  that  favorable  physical  situations  and 
resources  are  absolutely  necessary  to  material  and  moral  develop 
ment.  Illinois,  in  this  respect,  stands  pre-eminent  among  the  States 
of  the  Union.  She  is  the  heart  of  the  Northwest.  In  agricultural 
resources  she  is  unsurpassed.  In  manufacturing  and  commercial 
facilities  she  has  no  superior.  On  the  east,  south  and  west,  the  great 
river  of  the  continent  and  its  tributaries  water  her  border  counties, 
while  their  branches  penetrate  to  every  part  of  the  State,  irrigating 
her  soil,  draining  her  low  lands,  and  affording  water  power  for  her 
manufactures.  The  Illinois  River  runs  for  over  two  hundred  miles 
through  the  State,  from  northeast  to  southwest,  forming  a  natural 
highway  between  the  Lakes  and  the  Mississippi,  the  key  of  which  ia 
entirely  in  our  possession.  This  highway  is  one  of  the  most  impor 
tant  of  the  physical  resources  of  the  State ;  while,  in  a  military  point 
of  view,  it  enables  us  to  dominate  the  Lakes  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 
Father  of  Waters  on  the  other.  A  State,  holding  this  great  water 
way,  must  always  be  a  power  on  the  continent,  as  well  as  in  the 
Union.  Then,  we  have,  on  the  northeast,  an  outlet  to  the  ocean 
through  the  great  Lakes,  those  inland  seas  of  the  continent ;  while 
that  one  of  them,  Michigan,  which  laves  our  northeastern  border,  is 
almost  land-locked,  and  thus  the  least  liable  to  hostile  incursions 
from  foreign  powers.  This  secures  to  us  the  site  for  a  naval  depot, 
for  dock-yards,  for  the  building  and  repair  of  vessels,  for  foundries 
for  cannon,  for  workshops  for  all  descriptions  of  war  material,  at 
some  point  on  Lake  Michigan,  between  the  Wisconsin  and  Indiana 
State  lines.  Our  State  is  also  on  the  direct  route  of  the  Pacific  Rail 
road,  which  must  intersect  it  from  east  to  west ;  thus  making  it  a 
portion  of  the  great  highway  between  Europe  and  the  Indies.  Then, 
again,  all  our  lines  of  communication,  from  the  interior  of  the  State 
to  shipping  points  connected  with  tide-water,  at  which  bulky  articles 
of  merchandise  or  agricultural  products  can  be  received  or  delivered, 
are  short.  This  saves  the  cost  of  lengthy  transportation  of  such 
articles  by  railway,  which  must  always  be  expensive.  At  present, 
in  some  of  the  States  to  the  west  and  northwest  of  us,  large  quanti 
ties  of  grain  have  been  stored  on  the  navigable  rivers  for  the  last 
two  seasons.  On  account  of  low  water  it  cannot  be  sent  to  market 


16  PREFATORY    NOTES. 

by  steamboat,  while  the  cost  of  railway  transportation  would  eat  up 
its  value.  This  can  never  be  the  case  in  Illinois,  as  long  as  water 
runs  in  the  Mississippi,  and  that  of  the  great  Lakes  flows  unob 
structed  to  the  sea.  But  not  alone  do  we  possess  agricultural  re 
sources  of  an  almost  unlimited  character :  we  have  also  within  the 
limits  of  our  State,  facilities  for  manufactures,  which  equal  those  of 
nearly  all  the  other  States  of  the  Union  combined.  Beneath  the 
surface  of  our  blooming  prairies  and  beautiful  woodlands  are  millions 
of  tons  of  coal,  easy  of  access,  close  to  the  great  centers  of  commerce 
and  manufactures,  on  great  navigable  rivers,  and  intersected  by  rail 
way  facilities  of  the  best  description. 

"Illinois,  in  1860,  was  the  fourth  State  in  the  Union  in  the  number 
of  tons  of  coal  produced.  But  what  has  been  produced  bears  no 
comparison  to  what  may  be.  Our  State  geologist  assures  me  that  in 
a  single  county  in  this  State  there  are  a  thousand  millions  tons  of 
coal  awaiting  the  various  uses  to  which  the  civilization  of  the  future 
will  apply  it.  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Illinois  possesses  within 
itself  the  physical  resources  of  not  only  a  great  State  but  a  great 
nation." 

Guiding  all  these  is  the  intelligent  purpose  of  the  people,  and  Illi 
nois  will  continue  to  demand  the  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  Avar, 
until  the  authority  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States  is 
acknowledged  over  every  State  and  Territory  of  the  Republic. 

It  were  ungrateful  for  rendered  service,  and  untrue  to  facts  were, 
not  mention  made  of  the  devoted  patriotism  of  the  women  of  the 
State.  They  have  not  their  record  in  the  organization  and  marching 
of  regiments,  but  theirs  was  nevertheless  real  and  a  noble  work. 
They  inspired  the  love  of  country  by  their  own  spirit.  They  would 
hear  nothing  of  cowardice,  or  worldly  prudence.  They  threw  the 
halo  of  love  of  country  over  all  social  life.  They  gave  their  best 
loved  to  the  altar  of  the  State.  They  organized  sewing  circles,  aid 
societies,  etc.,  in  every  neighborhood;  they  organized  and  fnanaged 
fairs ;  they  opened  and  sustained  Homes  or  Rests  for  the  weary  and 
wounded  soldier.  This  record  is  a  meager  one,  and  does  scanty 
justice  to  the  devoted  women  of  Illinois.  Many  a  soldier  has  said 
"  God  bless  them." 

The  people  of  this  State  have  seen,  in  common  with  their  fellow- 


PREFATORY  NOTES.  17 

citizens  elsewhere,  that  God  is  in  this  contest.  They  have  heard 
His  speech  and  were  afraid ;  they  have  seen  His  hand  and  have 
trusted.  They  have  believed  that  He  was  leading  the  nation 
through  the  Red  Sea  and  the  desert  to  the  Canaan  of  liberty.  They 
have  steadily  believed  that  ere  their  ABRAHAM  should  return  to 
<  1  well  in  his  Springfield  home;  the  ISAAC  of  Freedom  should  be 
born !  So  they  still  believe,  and  they  are  sanguine  that  the  day 
rometh ! 

In  these  notes  the  author  must  mention  two  facts  with  peculiar 
satisfaction,  which  did  not  come  within  the  scope  of  the  text  of  the 
first  volume,  facts  which  are  to  the  honor  of  the  State. 

The  first  is  the  repeal,  by  the  Legislature,  of  the  odious  black  laws. 
They  were  passed  when  prejudice  against  the  colored  race  was  at 
its  hight.  The  African  was  a  pariah,  an  outlaw,  and  only  by  ostra 
cizing  him  could  there  be  safety  for  the  State.  The  cry  of  "  Amal 
gamation  "  was  raised,  forgetting  that  it  is  slavery  that  mingles 
'the  races  ;•  slavery  that  makes  each  plantation  as  many  colored  in  its 
population  as  Joseph's  famed  coat  of  ancient  days ;  slavery  that 
bleaches  African  slavery  out  by  bleaching  Anglo-Saxon  slavery  in  ! 

And  so  a  code  unchristian  and  inhuman  crept  into  the  statute- 
books.  It  made  Illinois  virtually  a  slave  state.  Fortunately  its 
most  odious  features  were  decided  by  the  Supreme  Court  to  be  at 
variance  with  the  constitution  of  the  State.  The  remnant  had  come 
to  be  a  dead  letter,  and  so  little  attention  was  directed  to  it  that  it 
might  have  gone  unrepealed  but  that  certain  "  sons  of  Belial " 
in  whom  was  little  of  the  love  of  God  or  country  saw  fit  to  prose 
cute  Union  officers,  who,  on  temporary  return  from  the  field,  brought 
with  them  each  his  servant,  "  confiscated  "  by  the  sword,  made  free 
perhaps  for  service  rendered  the  army.  No  matter — bringing  him 
into  the  State  was  illegal,  and  prosecution  followed.  It  was  mean  and 
dastardly  as  the  selling  of  Joseph  into  Egypt,  but  like  that  event  was 
overruled  for  good.  A  demand  swept  from  Cairo  to  Waukegan 
from  Quincy  to  Paris,  from  Old  Kaskaskia  to  Galena  that  the  code 
should  be  repealed.  Governor  Yates  urged  the  popular  demand 
with  fiery  vehemence ;  Governor  Oglesby  threw  his  influence  in  its 
favor,  and  the  1st  day  of  February  1865,  the  General  Assembly 
Voted  the  repeal.  The  Governor  promptly  appended  his  signature, 
2 


18 


PREFATORY   NOTES. 


and  the  black  laws  of  Illinois  were  consigned  to  the  tomb  of  dead 
monstrosities ! 

The  other  was  the  prompt  approval  of  the  proposed  amendment 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  rendering  human  slavery 
forever  impossible  in  all  the  States  and  Territories  of  the  Union, 
After  a  protracted  debate  on  it  in  Congress  it  received  the  constitu 
tional  majority,  and  of  course  the  signature  of  the  President. 

The  telegraph  flashed  the  news  over  the  country,  and  immediately 
Gov.  Oglesby  sent  a  special  message  to  the  Legislature,  recom 
mending  its  concurrence.  In  spite  of  parliamentary  strategy,  a 
joint  resolution  was  put  upon  its  passage,  and  within  twenty-four 
hours  of  the  Congressional  vote,  Illinois  had  given,  first  of  all  the 
States,  her  approval !  The  capitol  at  Springfield  rang  with  cheer 
after  cheer  when  the  result  was  announced,  and  throughout  the 
State  there  was  most  intense  rejoicing.  Bonfires  blazed,  cannon 
roared  and  people  shouted.  Illinois  had  placed  herself  in  the  van  of 
the  States  in  demanding  freedom  for  man  as  man.  It  is  an  honor 
the  Prairie  State  may  justly  place  upon  her  crest  and  proudly 
wear.  These  two  events  merit  record  in  the  volumes  which  chron 
icle  the  Patriotism  of  Illinois. 

It  is  amazing  to  contemplate  the  imperial  contributions  the  State 
has  made  in  this  war.  With  the  completion  of  the  call  now  pend 
ing,  more  than  one  quarter  of  a  million  of  men  will  have  gone  from 
her  homes.  They  were  not  her  pauper  population  sent  away  that 
she  might  find  for  them  cheap  burial  and  cheaper  graves,  but  the 
sons  of  the  hearths  and  homes  of  the  State  of  broad  prairies.  They 
went  with  the  blessing  of  wives,  mothers,  sisters  and  betrothed 
upon  them. 

The  Sanitary  Commission  at  Chicago  credits  the  citizens  of 
Chicago  with  contributions  amounting  to  $40,331.13,  and  the  citizens 
of  the  State  outside  of  Chicago  with  $55,541.68,  and  nine  thousand 
five  hundred  and  thirty-nine  packages  of  various  kinds,  while  im 
mense  amounts  of  stores  have  gone  forward  from  other  centers. 

The  Christian  Commission  has  received  and  expended  $145,844; 
a  single  farmer,  Jacob  Strawn,  giving  his  check,  and  one  that  would 
be  honored  anywhere,  for  ten  thousand  dollars,  the  citizens  of  Mor 
gan  county  sending  with  it  an  equal  amount !  And  this  to  provide 


NOTES,  19 

religious  instruction  to  the  men  in  the  army !  The  people  saw  an 
army  of  souls,  not  of  fighting  machines !  In  addition  the  Illinois 
donations  to  the  Freedmen's  Aid  Commission  amount  to  $81,865.81. 

In  what  follows  it  is  not  claimed  that  other  states  have  not  done 
nobly,  for  they  have.  In  the  patriotic  sisterhood  Illinois  claims  to 
bo  second  to  none.  She  is  worthy  to  clasp  them  by  thj  hand,  for 
she  lias  not  disgraced  them.  She  has  not  faltered  when  they  cnlled, 
!ior  deserted  in  the  hour  of  extreme  peril.  With  Peninsular  Michi 
gan,  glorious  Indiana,  gallant  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  whose  rolling  prai 
ries  resemble  some  vast  ocean  suddenly  solidified,  and  with  Missouri 
lately  made  free  by  her  own  act;  with  these  her  immediate  neighbors 
she  is  well  worthy  to  clasp  hands,  to  exchange  greetings,  and  when 
the  day  of  victory  shall  come,  to  mingle  congratulations, 

Illinois  is  justly  proud  of  the  eminent  leaders  she  has  given  to  the 
country.  There  is  Grant,  of  cool  persistence  and  undying  purpose  ; 
McClernand,  whose  early  record  was  so  brilliant;  Prentiss,  who 
suffered  from  wasting  captivity ;  Pope,  whose  military  genius 
shone  brilliantly  in  the  campaign  of  Island  No.  10  and  Corinth; 
Hurlbut,  whose  fighting  4th  division  stood  as  a  wall  on  the  bloody 
plain  of  Pittsburg  Landing  and  whose  admirable  generalship  won 
the  battle  of  the  Hatchie ;  Logan,  whose  shout  has  many  a  time 
steadied  the  waving  column ;  Palmer,  whose  reputation  rests  upon 
a  solid  basis,  with  many  others  of  lower  rank,  but  not  lower  bravery. 

The  official  action  of  churches  deserves  permanent  record  in  these 
Volumes,  and  will  receive  it,  but  in  the  present  is  omitted. 

It  has  not  been  possible  to  speak  of  surgeons  and  chaplains  as 
their  services  demand.  The  surgeon  has  no  promotion  ahead  ;  noth 
ing  to  cheer  or  stimulate,  but  the  stern  sense  of  duty.  The  chaplain 
has  no  promotion,  and  during  the  earlier  part  of  the  war  had  no 
rank,  and  was  made  the  foot-ball  of  contrary  and  sometimes  oppres 
sive  decisions.  But  with  these  drawbacks,  statements  yet  to  be 
made  will  show  that  the  service  owes  much  to  these  officers.  The 
surgeons  have  saved  life,  the  chaplains  have  pointed  to  the  higher 
life. 

With  the  exception  of  two  who  rose  from  the  ranks  to  the  chap 
laincy,  special  mention  has  been  avoided  from  a  purpose  to  cohVct 
and  generalize  certain  facts  and  suggestions  in  the  second  volnmie. 


20  FREFATOEY 

The  burdens  of  a  chaplain's  life,  early  in  the  service  were  very 
onerous,  and  with  the  shifting  orders  in  reference  to  his  rank  and 
pay,  no  wonder  he  was  sometimes  driven  to  resignation.  The  vex 
ations  culminated  in  giving  such  a  construction  to  the  law,  that  if  a 
chaplain  was  absent  from  active  duty,  though  it  might  be  from 
wounds  or  sickness  contracted  in  actual  service,  all  allowances  of 
pay  and  rations  were  stopped !  In  one  instance  a  chaplain  refused 
to  leave  the  hospital  when  he  was  serving  the  wounded,  and  worked 
on  until  prostrated.  His  conduct  merited  honorable  mention  in  offi 
cial  reports,  and  promotion  if  such  a  thing  had  been  possible.  What 
it  brought  him  was  deduction  of  fifty  days'  pay !  No  wonder  so 
many  were  driven  out  of  the  army.  The  law  has  been  amended, 
but  is  yet  vague  and  too  indefinite,  and  is  susceptible  of  improvement, 
Richmond,  the  rebel  capital,  has  surrendered,  and  the  Libby 
prison  has  opened  its  gloomy  portals ;  the  tramp  of  Weitzel's  armed 
freedmen  has  been  heard  in  its  streets,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  lived  to 
give  audience  in  the  departments  of  Davis.  The  iron  chamber  haa 
been  compressing  its  walls ;  General  Lee  has  surrendered  his  grand 
army,  and  this  volume  goes  to  its  patrons  with  the  glad  prophecy 
of  early  peace.  The  country  is  saved,  and  before  it  are  long  days 
of  peace  and  quietness. 

"  God  bless  our  native  land." 

The  author  sends  out  this  volume,  craving  for  it  such  modification 
of  severe  criticism  as  the  circumstances  suggest.  Our  regiments 
are  a-field — forty-six  are  with  Sherman  as  he  marches  through  the 
sea-board  States  of  the  Confederacy,  and  in  many  instances  com 
munication  with  them  is  impossible.  Matter  designed  for  this  vol 
ume  is  unavoidably  delayed  until  the  second. 

There  has  been  honesty  of  intention,  close  and  faithful  application, 
and  free  expenditure  of  means  in  gathering  information.  Error  has  been 
guarded  against,but  'twere  too  much  to  hope  that  it  is  entirely  excluded. 
*  *  *  *  The  author  craves  indulgence  to  state  that  the  delay 
of  sending  this  volume  to  press,  gives  opportunity  to  say  that 
Charleston,  which  fired  the  first  gun  of  the  rebellion  has  yielded  to 
Federal  authority  and  without  any  desperate  resistance,  and  the  U. 
S.  colored  troops,  South  Carolina  freedmen,  were  first  to  parade  its 
streets,  singing  as  they  marched,  the  Glory  Halleluiah  of  the  John 
Brown  song ! 


CONTENTS  OF  VOLUME  I. 


CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

PAGE. 

The  State — Extent  and  Boundaries — Decades — Productions — Civil  War — Free 
and  Slave  Labor — Demands  of  Slavery — Lincoln  and  Douglas — Senatorial  Con 
test — 1860 — Presidential  Contest — Threats  of  Disunion — No  Justification  for 
Revolution — A.  H.  Stephens's  Speech — Mr.  Lincoln's  Views — Powerless  for 
Evil — Mr.  Buchanan — Cabinet — Scenes  in  Congress — South  Carolina  Se 
cedes — "Coercion" — Lincoln's  Policy  Foreshadowed — Major  Anderson — Fort 
Moultrie  and  Fort  Sumter — Commissioners — General  Scott  and  Reinforce 
ments — A  Truce — Illinois  Congressional  Delegation — Summary  of  Important 
Facts — Termination  of  the  Buchanan  Administration 33 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE     ILLINOIS     PRESIDENT. 

Abraham  Lincoln — Early  History — Removals— Taste  of  War — Candidacy — A 
Surveyor — Member  of  Illinois  Legislature — Internal  Improvement — Private 
Life — In  Congress — Wilmot  Proviso — Nebraska  Bill*— His  Opposition — Mis 
souri  Compromise — Peoria  Speech — Prophetic  Words — Right  and  Wrong — 
Bill  of  Exceptions  to  Slavery — The  Fathers — Senatorial  Election — Contest 
of  1858— The  Divided  House  Speech— The  Way  of  Providence— Leaders  for 
Crises — His  Characteristics — National  Republican  Convention — Wigwam — 
Scward  and  Lincoln  —  Nomination — Leaving  Springfield  —  Invocation  of 
Prayer — His  Farewell — The  Journey — Speeches — At  Indianapolis — Cincin 
nati — New  York — Trenton — Philadelphia — In  Washington — Inauguration — 
The  Inaugural  Address-^Cabinet — Sumter — Surrender — A  Lowered  Flag — 
Only  a  Moment 53 


ZZ  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    III. 

THE      GKEAT      UPRISING. 

PAGSS 

Sabbath  and  Sumter — Pulpits — Excitement — How  could  it  be  ? — Reasons  for 
Surrender — Watchwords  of  Loyalty — The  Flag — The  Churches — The  Press- 
Oratory — The  Children — Woman — Voice  of  Providence — President's  Procla 
mation — Blockading  Proclamation — Springfield — Governor  Yates's  Proclama 
tion — Six  Reghaenls — Senator  Douglas's  Springfield  Speech — Interview  with 
Governor  Yates  —  Wigwam  Speech  —  Its  Influence  —  His  Death  —  Speech 
Quoted — Baltimore  Riot — A  Minister's  Expression — Popular  demand  to  take 
Troops  through  Baltimore — Object  of  Mob  Defeated — Men  and  Money  Ten 
dered — People  demand  Short,  Earnest  War — Influence  of  the  "Great  Up 
rising  "  on  the  Secessionists „ 7fc 


CHAPTER    IV. 

EARLY     WAR     MEASURES. 

Patriotic  Governors — Richard  Yates — Parentage  and  Education — State  Legisla 
ture — In  Congress — Elected  Governor — Inaugural — What  shall  be  done  ? — 
Adjutant-General  Fuller— First  Call  for  Troops— The  Situation— The  Militia- 
Proclamation — Special  Message — Aid — General  Orders  Nos.  1,  2 — Character 
of  the  First  Call — Why  was  it  so  f — Perhaps — Hopes  of  Peace — Awaiting 
Congress — Mr.  Cameron  on  the  Situation — Richmond  Enquirer — The  Navy — 
After  the  Event — Egypt  and  Israel 


CHAPTER    V. 

EARLY     STATE     MOVEMENTS  —  ORGANIZATION. 

Ten  Days'  Work — Ten  Thousand — Without  Arms — State  Messenger  in  Balti 
more — Importance  of  Cairo — River  and  Railway  Key — Yates's  Order  to 
Gen.  Swift — Means  Business — Cairo  Expedition — Equipment — Big  Muddy — 
At  Cairo — Artillery  Ammunition — A  Trio  of  Border  Governors — Imperti 
nence — Kentucky  Neutrality — Pious  Beriah — Governor's  Special  Message — 
Grim  Romance — Brass  Missionaries — Cairo  in  Kentucky — Col.  Prentiss  in 
Command — Contraband  Trade — Seizure  of  Steamers — Cargo — Legislative 
Action — War  Footing — Numbering  Regiments — Ten  Regiment  Bill — Dis 
trict  Headquarters  —  President's  Second  Call  —  Capt.  Stokes  —  St.  Louis 
Arsenal — Secessionist  Difficulties — Tact  and  Courage — Success — "Straight 
for  Alton."  . .  31 


CONTENTS.  23 

CHAPTER    VI. 

THE     STATE     AUTHORITIES     AND     WAR     DEPARTMENT. 

PAQK 

Six  Regiments  Wanted — Two  Hundred  Companies  Offered — Selection — Regi 
mental  Headquarters — Cavalry  Declined — Secretarial  Wet  Blanket — Mes 
senger  to  Washington — Four  Additional  Regiments  Accepted — Reclaiming 
Enlisted  Men — The  Colonels — "Foraging  Stopped" — "Go  to  your  Consul" — 
Correspondence  between  Governor  Yates  and  Mr.  Cameron — After  Bull  Run 
and  Wilson's  Creek — At  Last — Cavalry — Ten  Companies — Thirteen  Regi 
ments — Artillery — Infantry  Regiments — Enlisting  again  Stopped — Illinois 
and  Sister  States. .  106 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   STATE  AND   THE   ARMY '61   TO   '64. 

The  New  Year — The  Situation — Sober  Views — The  "Cause"  to  Perish — Carpet 
Knights — Ahead  of  all  Calls — Other  Regiments — To  Fill  Old  Regiments — 
Special  Service — "Washington  in  Danger" — A  Time  of  Gloom — Tender- 
footed  Commanders — The  Inevitable  Negro — Fremont  and  Hunter — War  in 
Earnest — New  Call — Governor's  Proclamation — Letter  to  the  President — The 
Old  Score— No  Draft— A  Credit  Declined— Two  Years'  Work— A  Shock  to 
State  Pride — The  Legislature  of  1863-4 — Its  Responsibilities — Governor's 
Recommendations — Neglect  of  Grave  Business — A  Sudden  Prorogation — 
"Profane  History" — A  Better  Record — Governor's  Proclamation  February  5. 
1864— Adjutant-General's  Report  of  February  1,  1864 116 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

THE  PRECEDING   CHAPTERS. 

Insertion  of  Documents — Baffled  Schemes — Close  of  First  Great  Epoch — Ad 
ministration  on  Trial — The  Issues — The  Decision — The  Eighth  of  November — 
Twenty-seven  Years,  or  from  Lovejoy  to  Lincoln — Oglesby  and  Bross — Yates — 
His  Final  Message — Quotations — Education — Principles — Churches — Benevo 
lent  Organizations — Sanitary  and  Christian  Commissions — Freedmen's  Aid 
Societies — Soldier's  Homes — The  Hand  of  Providence — Finance — Imple- 
mental  Industry — Negro  and  Machinery — Northern  Planters — The  Sewing 
Machine — Achievements  of  the  Year — Prospects. 


24:  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER     IX. 

F  R  E  MO  NT'S     ADMINISTRATION". 

PABH 

Illinois  Troops  in  the  West — Situation  of  Missouri — St.  Louis  and  Lyon — Attack 
on  Boorieville — Carthage — Arrival  of  Fremont — "Western  Department" — A 
Critical  Time — Southeastern  Missouri — Reynold's  Pronunciamento — Governor 
Jackson's  Proclamation — Wilson's  Creek — Death  of  Lyon — Prentiss  to  Fre 
mont — Fremont's  Statement — Plan  of  His  Campaign — His  Celebrated  Order — 
Lexington — Col.  Mulligan's  force — The  Assailants — Estvan's  Testimonial — In 
dignation — Colfax  and  Fremont — Retreat  of  Price — Crossing  the  Osage — Fre 
mont's  March — Zagonyi's  Charge — Price  at  Pineville — Removal  of  Fremont — 
Hunter's  Retreat — Its  Adverse  Consequences — fight  at  Monroe — Gen.  Huii- 
but's  Order — Gen.  Pope's  Order — Battle  of  Charleston — Fremont's  Report — 
Col.  Dougherty — The  March — Charge — Its  Results — Killed  and  Wounded — 
Battle  of  Fredericktown — Col.  Plummer  and  his  Command— The  Engagement — 
The  Victory 155 


CHAPTER    X. 

U.      S.      GR  AN  T. 

The  Lieutenant-General — Birth — At  West  Point — His  Academic  Course — Grad 
uation — His  Class-Mates — Brevet  2d  Lieutenant — To  Mexican  Border — Full 
Commission  as  2d  Lieutenant — Palo  Alto — Reseca  de  la  Palma — Along  the  Rio 
Grande — Monterey — Molino  del  Rey — Promoted — Brevet  Declined — Chepul- 
tepec — Noticed  in  Reports — Captain's  Brevet — Full  Commission  as  1st  Lieu 
tenant — To  Oregon — Commissioned  Captain — Resignation — St.  Louis — Ga 
lena — Conversation  Avith  Rev.  Dr.  Vincent — Governor  Yates'  Account — In 
Command  at  Mexico — At  Cairo — Seizes  Paducah  and  Smithland — The  Battle 
of  Belmont — Loss — Fouke  and  Wright — Illinois  Regiments — Gunboats — Hal- 
leek —  Grant's  District — New  Campaign  —  Major-General  —  Promotion — Ele 
ments  of  Success 173 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE   CUMBERLAND   AND   TENNESSEE. 

Reconnoissance — Preparations — Battle  of  Milford — Mt.  Zion — Silver  Creek — 
Columbus — Grant's  Brigading  Order — Other  Forces — Fort  Henry — Gunboats — 
Land  Forces — Tennessee  Mud — Instructions — The  Bombardment — The  White 
Flag — The  Surrender — Tighlman  and  Foote — The  Commodore  in  the  Pulpit — 
Escape  of  the  Camp — Rebels — Iron-clads — Muster  of  Forces  for  Donelson — 


CONTENTS.  25 

PAGJC. 

Defenses — Rebel  Commanders — Waiting  for  the  Transports — The  Gun 
boats — They  Retire — Grimes  on  Admiral  Foote — Siege — A  Sortie — A 
Terrible  Contest— Gen.  Smith's  Charge— White  Flag— Floyd  and  Pillow- 
Correspondence — Unconditional  Surrender — The  Victory — Its  Results — Stan- 
ton's  Letter — Grant's  Report — The  Tides  of  War — Kentucky — McGoffin — Bet 
ter  and  Truer  Men — The  Legislature — Gen.  Anderson — Buckner's  Attempt  to 
Seize  Louisville — Gen.  Roseau — Hegira — The  Situation — Gen.  Anderson  Re 
tires — "Crazy  Sherman" — A  "Bogus  Convention" — "Council  of  Ten" — 
Broad  Face — A  "Strong  Ass" — Gen.  Buell — Divisions — The  Second — The 
Third — Rowlett's  Station — Mill  Springs — Defeat  of  Marshall — Mitchell's  March 
on  Bowling  Green — Crossing  Barren  River — Occupation — On  to  Nashville — 
Its  Occupancy — A  Rebel  Account — Mitchell's  and  Buell's  Forces 190 


CHAPTER    XII. 

COLUMBUS:     ISLAND    NO.    10:     PEA   RIDGE. 

Federal  Strategy — Results — Columbus — Halleck's  Dispatch — Gunboats — "  That 
Flag  " — Rebel  Strength — Gen.  Pope — A  Cavalry  Skirmish — Capture  of  New 
Madrid — Morgan's  Gallant  Brigade — Evacuation. — Pope's  Dispatch — "Island 
No.  10" — Naval  Bombardment — Buford's  Dash  on  Union  City — Col.  Roberts' 
Daring  Exploit — Running  Batteries — The  Surrender — General  Presentment — 
Gen.  Pope's  Command— Battle  of  Pea  Ridge — Incidents — Major-General  Cur 
tis — Brigadier-General  Eugene  A.  Carr — General  Julius  White — Col.  Greu- 
sel — Col.  Post 216 

CHAPTER    XIII. 

PITTSBURGH     LANDING SHILOH. 

General  Statements — Illinois  Interest  in  the  Battle — The  New  Rebel  Line — 
Union  Line — Force  at  Corinth — Galaxy  of  Generals — Change  of  Plan — Savan 
nah — Pittsburg  Landing — The  Fight  Begun — Disposition  of  our  Forces — Gen. 
Johnston's  Address — Rebel  Corps — Skirmish  of  April  2d — Rebel  Design — 
Rebel  Order  of  Battle — Sunday  at  half-past  five — Rebel  Mistake — Terrible 
Charge — Prentiss',  Sherman's,  McClernand's  and  Wallace's  Divisions — Grant 

as  to  a  Surprise — Wallace  and  Hurlbut — Wallace  Falls — Disaster — A  Lull 

Lew.  Wallace  and  Buell — Webster's  Guns — Another  Conflict — The  Enemy 
Stayed — Sunday  Night — Beauregard's  Report — Monday  Morning — Union  Or 
der  of  Battle — The  Fight  Opens — Nelson's  Advance — TerrilPs  Battery — Ori 
ginal  Ground  Recovered — Battle  Ended — Whose  the  Victory  ? — A  Mourning 
State — Relief— The  Governor — Sanitary  Stores — Grant's  Official  Report — 
Prentiss'  Report — Letter  from  Gen.  Sherman , .  240 


250  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XIV. 

PERSONAL     AND     INCIDENT. 

PACm 

Brigadier-General   W.  H.  L.  Wallace — Major-General  Benjamin  P.  Prentiss — 

Brigadier-General  Brayman — Brigadier-General  D.  Stewart — Major-General 
S.  A.  Hurlbut — Lieut. -Colonel  Ellis — Colonel  Raith — Major  Goddard — Major- 
Eaton — Major  Page — Notices  of  wounded  Officers  in  Official  Reports — The 
Batteries — The  Scout  Carson — Our  Wounded — Illinois  and  the  Battle  of 
Shiloh  . .  .261 


CHAPTER    XV. 

CORINTH     CAMPAIGNS. 

Reconnoissance  of  the  Corinth  Road — The  Movement  on  Purdy — The  Battles  at 
Farmington — Evacuation  of  Corinth  and  its  Occupation  by  the  Union  Forces — 
Changes  in  the  Army — Battle  of  luka — The  Rebel  Defeat  at  Corinth — Battles 
of  the  Hatchie..  .  285 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

REGIMENTAL     SKETCHES. 

The  Thirteenth  Infantry — First  Organized  for  Three  Years — Early  Services — 
Battles — Marches — Officers — Colonel  Wymari — Chaplain  Needham — 2d  Cav 
alry — Scattered — Donelson — Marches  and  Battles — Officers — Colonel  Mudd — 
The  22d  Infantry — Charleston — Belmont — Shiloh — New  Madrid — Marches — 
Engagements — Col.  Dougherty — Lieut.-Colonel  Swanwick — Major  Johnson — 
The  Fortieth— Enlistment— At  Paducah— At  Shiloh— Corinth— Marches- 
Officers — Forty-eighth  Infantry — Organization — Donelson — Major  Stephen- 
son — Mission  Ridge — Knoxville — Re-enlisted — Col.  Greathouse 295 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


History  of  General  Mitchell's  Campaign — The  March  upon  Huntsville — Splendid 
March  of  General  Turchin's  Brigade — Illinois  in  the  Advance — Surprise  and 
Capture  of  Huntsville — General  Turchin's  Occupation  of  Tuscumbia — His 
Retrograde  Movement  —  Occupation  of  Athens  —  Refutation  of  Malicious 
Charges — The  Battle  of  Bridgeport — Complete  Surprise  and  Route  of  the 
Rebels — Close  of  the  Campaign — Gen.  Negley's  Expedition — Illinois  Again 
in  the  Advance — The  Shelling  of  Chattanooga — Life  and  Character  of  Gen. 
Turchin  ..  331 


CONTENTS.  27 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 

BU ELL'S    CAMPAIGN. 

PAQK 

Gen.  Buell's  Campaign — Capture  of  the  Union  Garrison  at  Munfordsville — The 
Battle  of  Bolivar,  Tenn — Splendid  Charge  of  the  Second  Illinois  Cavalry — 
Death  of  the  Gallant  Hero,  Lieut.-Col.  Hogg — The  Last  words  of  a  Brave 
Man — "For  God's  Sake,  Don't  Order  Me  Back  " — The  Battle  of  Perryville — 
How  Illinois  Was  Represented — Magnificent  Charge  of  Colonel  Carlin's  Brig 
ade — The  Heroes  of  Pea  Ridge  in  Their  Glory — The  Illinois  Regiments  En 
gaged — Closing  Scenes  of  the  Campaign — Buell  Superseded. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

STONE      RIVER. 

Gen.  Buell  Superseded  by  Gen.  Rosecrans— Reorganization  of  the  Army — The 
March  on  Murfreesboro — The  Battle  of  Stone  River — Three  Days'  Fighting — 
Plan  and  Details  of  the  Battle — The  89th  Illinois  Fighting  Against  Fate — 
Gallantry  of  Gen.  Kirk's  Old  Regiment—Wounding  of  Gen.  Kirk— The  Rebel 
Attack  on  Our  Left — Gen.  Negley  Comes  Up — Illinois  to  the  Rescue — "Who 
Will  Save  the  Left?"  "The  19th  Illinois,  Sir"— Magnificent  and  Daring 
Charge  of  the  19th — Complete  Rout  of  the  Rebel  Right — Capture  of  a  Bat 
tery — The  Chicago  Board  of  Trade  Battery — Casualties,  &c 3'50 


CHAPTER    XX. 

GRIERSON'S    RAID. 

Col.  Grierson's  Raid — Organization  of  the  Expedition  and  its  Character — Col. 
Hatch  Leaves  the  Force — Illinois  Alone  in  the  Field — On  for  Baton  Rouge — 
Daring  Expedition  of  Capt.  Forbes — Three  Thousand  Rebels  Surrender  to 
Thirty-five  Union  Troopers — The  Crisis  at  Pearl  River  Bridge — Saving  the 
Bridge — A  Perilous  Moment — Capture  of  Hazlehurst — How  they  Crossed 
the  Pearl  River — Capture  of  Brookhaven — Destroying  Railroads  and  Tele 
graphs — In  the  Swamps  and  in  Ambush — Capture  of  Stuart's  Cavalry — En 
tering  Baton  Rouge — Rejoicings  and  Ovations 364 


CHAPTER     XXI. 

BIO  GR  APHI  C  AL. 

Life  and  Character  of  Gen.  Kirk — His  Law  Studies — Entrance  Upon  the  Mili 
tary  Stage — On  the  Military  Board  of  Examiners — Wounded  at  Shiloh — Trib- 


28  CONTENTS. 

PACK. 

utes  of  Gen.  McCook  and  Buell — In  Command  at  Louisville — Wounded  at 
Stone  River — His  Death — Character  of  Gen.  Kirk — Col.  Von  Trebra — Sketch 
of  His  Life — Col.  Sheridan  P.  Read — Killed  at  Stone  River — Col.  George  W. 
Roberts — His  Important  Services — Fell  with  His  Face  to  the  Foe — Colonel 
Joseph  R.  Scott — The  Nationol  Cadets — His  Military  Knowledge — Organiza 
tion  of  the  19th — The  Left  Was  Saved,  but  Scott  Was  Lost 377 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

REGIMENTAL. 

The  Thirty-fourth  and  its  Officers — The  Seventy-ninth — The  Tenth  Cavalry  and 
its  Officers— The  Seventy-fourth— The  Seventy-fifth— The  Twenty-sixth— The 
Sixtieth— Brydges'  Battery 386 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

YICKSBTJEG. 

The  Vicksburg  Campaign — Original  Plan  of  Gen.  Grant's  Movement — His  Ad 
vance  on  Holly  Springs — The  Battle  Near  Coffeevillc — Gallantry  of  Colonels 
Dickey  and  Lee's  Cavalry — A  Retrograde  Movement — Col.  Dickey's  Expedi 
tion — His  Escape  from  VanDorn's  Cavalry — Rebel  Raids  upon  Grant's  Commu 
nications — The  Disgraceful  Surrender  of  Holly  Springs — Repulse  of  the  Reb 
els  at  Davis'  Mills — Forrest's  Raid  on  Humboldt  and  Trenton — The  Battle  of 
Parker's  Cross  Roads — Gallantry  of  the  First  Brigade — A  Crisis  in  the  Battle 
Its  rescue  by  the  Second  Brigade — Gens.  I.  N.  Haynie  and  Sullivan  to  the 
Rescue — The  Rebels  Defeated — Grant  Falls  back  to  Holly  Springs 425 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

GEN.    SHERMAN'S    VICKSBTJEG    CAMPAIGN. 

Gen.  Sherman's  Vicksburg  Campaign — The  Connection  of  Gen.  McClemand 
with  It — Organization  of  the  Expedition — McClernand's  Correspondence  with 
the  Secretary  of  War — Letter  from  the  President — Correspondence  with  Gen. 
Halleck  and  Gen.  Grant — Gen.  McClemand  Assigned  to  a  Corps  after  the 
Movement  of  the  Expedition — His  Voyage  Down  the  River — Assigned  to  Com 
mand  the  Forces — Letters  from  Gen.  Grant — Gen.  Sherman's  Failure  on  the 
Chickasaw  Bayou — Details  of  the  Three  Days'  Battle — Death  of  General  Wy- 
i — Return  of  the  Forces — Gen.  McClemand  Assumes  Command ...  .435 


CONTENTS.  29 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

AEMY      OF      THE      MISSISSIPPI. 

PAGH 

Gen.  McClernand  Assumes  Command  of  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi — The  Mil 
itary  Situation — General  Order  No.  1 — Submission  of  Plan  to  Gen.  Grant — 
The  Movement  against  Arkansas  Post— Nature  of  the  Position — Illinois  Reg 
iments  in  the  Expedition — Preliminary  Reconnoissance — The  Attack  Upon 
the  Fort — Its  Surrender — Details  of  the  Battle — Extracts  from  Gen.  McCler- 
nand's  Report — His  Order  of  Congratulation — The  Views  of  the  President — 
Correspondence  Between  Gov.  Yates  and  Gen.  McClernand 444 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

GEN.    GRANT'S    DESCENT    OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

The  New  Plan  of  Operation  Against  Vicksburg — Canal  Digging — The  Wil 
liams,  Lake  Providence  and  Moon  Lake  Canals — Their  Failures — The  Steele's 
Bayou  Expedition  and  its  Failure — Gen.  McClernand's  Movement  Down  the 
West  Bank  of  the  River — Capture  of  Richmond — Difficulties  of  the  March — 
Running  the  Batteries — The  Illinois  Volunteers — Failure  of  the  Movement 
Against  Grand  Gulf — Running  the  Batteries  Again — The  Advance  on  Port 
Gibson — Battle  of  Port  Gibson — Gallantry  of  the  Illinois  Troops — Gen. 
Grant's  Order — Evacuation  of  Grand  Gulf — Interes-ting  Movements  of  the 
Army 452 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

FROM   GRAND   GULF   TO   VICKSBURG. 

A  Series  of  Battles  and  Victories — The  Battle  of  Raymond — A  Splendid  Charge 
— General  Crocker's  Charge  at  Jackson — Capture  of  the  City — The  Battle  of 
Champion  Hills — Desperate  Fighting  of  Logan's  Division — Gallantry  of  Logan's 
Corps — The  March  on  Big  Black  River  Bridge — Storming  the  Works—The 
Rebels  Driven  Out — The  Final  Investment  of  Vicksburg — A  Review  of  the 
Situation — Tribute  to  Illinois  Valor 461 

CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE     INVESTMENT      OF      VICKSBURG. 

Incidents  of  the  Siege— The  Charge  on  the  22d  of  May— Gallantry  of  Ransom's 
Brigade— A  Terrible  Fire — Gen.  Ransom  Leads  his  men — Failure  of  the 


30  CONTENTS. 

PAfeK. 

Charge — Splendid  Retreat  of  the  Brigade — Gallantry  of  the  Mercantile  Bat 
tery — Gen.  McClernand  Presents  Them  With  Two  Napoleon  Guns — Death  of 
Dr.  Stevenson  and  Capt.  Rogers — Valor  of  the  20th  Illinois — Accuracy  of 
our  Artillerists — A  Rebel  Sortie  Repulsed — The  Assault  on  Fort  Hill — The 
Glorious  Lead  Mine  Regiment — Death  of  Lieut. -Col.  Meiancthon  Smith — Cap 
itulation  of  Vicksburg — Correspondence  Between  Gens.  Grant  and  Pemberton 
— Biography  of  Lieut.-Col.  Wright  of  the  72d  Illinois 468 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL    SKETCHES    OF   ILLINOIS    GENERALS, 

Life  and  Career  of  Gen.  McClernand — His  Youth — On  the  Law  and  in  Business 
— Elected  to  the  Legislature — Advocacy  of  Great  Public  Measures — Elected 
to  Congress — Bills  Introduced — Enters  the  Service — His  Career  as  a  General 
— Resignation — Life  of  Gen.  Logan — Congressional  Career — In  the  Service — 
Personal  Sketch — His  Influence  and  Example — A  Noble  Letter — Life  of  Gen. 
Ransom — Early  Days  in  Chicago — Enters  the  Service — At  Vicksburg  and  Pleas 
ant  Hills — His  Heroism— Last  Illness — Death  of  a  Gallant  Soldier — Graphic 
Description  of  His  Death — Summary  of  his  Character — Gen.  McArthur  and 
His  Life  and  Career. . ,  .476 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

THE  CAMPAIGNS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND- 

Reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland — Second  Attack  on  Fort  Doncl- 
son— Gallant  Defense  by  the  83d  Illinois,  Col.  Harding — The  Rebels  Driven 
off — Col.  Colborn's  Brigade  Captured  at  Spring  Hill — Defeat  of  John  Morgan 
at  Milton— The  123d  and  80th  Illinois  in  the  fight— Splendid  Conduct  of  the 
80th — Granger  Attacked  by  Van  Dorn — Defeat  of  the  Rebels  at  McMinns- 
ville — Col.  Streight's  Expedition— The  Roll  of  Honor — Names  of  Illinois 
Soldiers  Distinguished  for  Bravery > 496 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

TESTIMONIALS. 

The  Utterances  of  the  Patriotism  of  Illinois  During  the  War — The  Emancipa 
tion  Proclamation,  the  Key  Note  of  the  Campaign — The  Great  Speech  of 
Honest  Farmer  Funk — A  Stirring  Letter  from  Gen.  Logan  to  His  Soidiers — 
Letter  from  Col.  Frank  Sherman — Extracts  from  Speeches  of  Hon.  Richard 
Yates,  Hon.  Lyman  Trumbull,  Hon.  Owen  Lovejoy,  Gen.  Farnsworth,  Hon.  I, 


CONTENTS  31 

PAGB. 

N.  Arnold — President's  Lincoln's  Inaugural  Address,  Last  Speech  and  Procla 
mation — The  North  American  Review  and  Kentucky  Letter — Mr.  Lincoln 
Dead * 511 

CHAPTER    XXXII. 

ILLINOIS     OX     THE     POTOMAC. 

Campaigns  of  East  and  West — Virginia  the  Battle-ground — Its  Natural  Divi 
sions — Campaigns  (  f  Western  Virginia — General  Scott — Bull  Run — General 
McClellan — Waiting — "On  to  Richmond  " — Yorktown— Battles  of  the  Ch'.ek- 
ahominy-7-Pope — McClellan — Burnside — Fredericksburg — "  No.  8  " — Hooker 
— Chancellorsville — Lee's  Strategy — His  Advance  on  Pennsylvania — New 
Call — Lee's  Ultimate  Advance — Meade — Advance  of  His  Army — Gettysburg 
— Battles — Lost  Opportunity — More  Waiting — Lee's  Army  Escapes,  and  Gen. 
Meade  Escapes  the  tlighest  Honor — Gettysburg  and  Vicksburg — Shenandoah 
Valley — The  Coast — Lieut.-Gen.  Grant — Into  the  Wilderness — Its  Battles — 
Before  Petersburg 537 

CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

THE   POTOMAC CAMPAIGN   AND   REGIMENTAL. 

Major-General  Hunter — Then  and  Now — The  8th  Cavalry — General  Farnsworth 
— General  Gamble— Col.  Clendening — General  Beveridge— Major  Medill — The 
Chaplains — The  12th  Cavalry — Col.  Voss — Col.  Davis — Barker's  Dragoons — 
The  23d  Infantry — General  Mulligan — The  39th  Infantry — Col.  Osborn— Lieut- 
Colonel  Mann — Sturgis'  Rifles. 548 

CHAPTER    XXXIV. 

BIO  GB  AP  II  I  C  A  L  . 

Major-General  John  Buford — The  Cavalry  Marshal — Colonel  John  A.  Brosa — 
Colored  Troops— In  the  Cedars — The  29th  U.  S.  C.  T. — Obey  Orders — The 
Mine — Lieut.  De  Wolf— Lieut.  Skinner — Young  Durham 587 

CHAPTER    XXXV. 

THE    ADJUTANT     GENERAL'S     OFFICE. 

Its  Appearance — Its  Occupants — Its  Contents — Mather — Wyman — Grant — 
Loomis — Adjutant-General  Fuller — Biography — Judge — Adjutant— Governor 

Yates'  Testimony — hpeaker — Resolutions  of  House — Economy 602 

APPENDIX. 

Tabular  statement,  showing  the  population,  enrollments  of  1863-4,  and  the  totals 
of  all  the  quotas  to  1864,  and  credits,  deficits  and  excess  of  each  county  in  the  State 
to  July  1,  1864 607 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 


PRESIDENT  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 
HOME  OF  MR.  LINCOLN. 
HON.  STEPHEN  A.  DOITGLAS. 
HON.  RICHARD  YATES. 
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT. 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE. 
MAJOR-GENERAL  JNO.  A.  McCLERNAND, 
MAJOR-GENERAL  JNO.  A.  LOGAN. 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL  T.  E.  G.  RANSOM. 
COLONEL  JAS.  A.  MULLIGAN. 
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  JNO.  A.  BROSS, 


PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTEE     I. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

THE  STATE — EXTENT  AND  BOUNDARIES — DECADES — PRODUCTIONS — CIVIL  WAII — FREB 
AND  SLAVE  LADOR — DEMANDS  OF  SLAVERY — LINCOLN  AND  DOUGLAS — SENATORIAL 
CONTEST — 1860 — PRESIDENTIAL  CONTEST — THREATS  OF  DISUNION — No  JUSTIFICATION 
FOR  REVOLUTION — A.  II.  STEPHENS'  SPEECH — MR.  LINCOLN'S  VIEWS — POWEI.LESS  FOR 
EVIL — MR.  BUCHANAN — CABINET — SCENES  IN  CONGRESS — SOUTH  CAROLINA  SECEDES 
— "COERCION" — LINCOLN'S  POLICY  FORESHADOWED — MAJOR  ANDERSON — FORT  MOUL- 
TRIE  AND  FORT  SUMTER — COMMISSIONERS — GENERAL  ScOTT  AND  REINFORCEMENTS — A 
TRUCE — ILLINOIS  CONGRESSIONAL  DELEGATION — SUMMARY  OF  IMPORTANT  FACTS — 
TERMINATION  OF  THE  BUCHANAN  ADMINISTRATION. 

THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS  stretches  from  36°  56'  to  42°  30' 
north  latitude,  and  is  between  87°  35' and  91°  40' longitude. 
Its  extent  is  truly  imperial ;  its  length  from  north  to  south  being 
three  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  and  its  extreme  breadth  from  cast 
to  west  two  hundred  and  twelve  miles.  Its  head  is  as  far  north 
as  Lowell,  Massachusetts,  and  its  foot  farther  south  than  Rich 
mond,  Virginia.  Its  area  is  55,405  square  miles,  or  35,459,200 
acres.  Its  northern  boundary  is  Wisconsin ;  the  north-eastern, 
Lake  Michigan ;  eastern,  Indiana,  from  which  it  ?s,  in  part,  separated 
by  the  W abash  River;  its  southern,  Kentucky  and  the  Ohio  River, 
while  on  its  western  line  is  the  Mississippi  Rivor,  across  which  are 
the  States  of  Missouri  and  Iowa.  It  is  divided  into  one  hundred 
and  one  counties,  which  are  dotted  with  villages,  towns  or  cities. 

Its  growth  has  been  very  rapid,  as  the  statement  of  its  decennial 
periods  from  1810  to  1860  shows : 

YEAR,  WHITES.  FREE  COLORED.      SLAVES,  TOTAL. 

1810 11,501 613 168 12,282 

1820 53,788 457 917 55,162 

1830 155,061 1,637 747 157,445 

1840 472,254 3,598 331 476,183 

1850 846,034 6,436 851,470 

1860 1,704,323 7,628 1,711,951 

8 


34:  PATRIOTISM    OF  ILLINOIS. 

The  development  of  material  prosperity  lias  been  proportionate 
to  the  increase  of  population.  Broad  and  beautiful  streams  open 
outlets  for  its  products,  and  supply  water-power  for  its  machinery. 
The  Mississippi  River,  the  Illinois  River  and  Canal,  and  the  great 
Lakes  furnish  water  transportation  for  its  cereals  and  its  beef  and  pork 
to  southern  or  eastern  tide-water  ;  long  lines  of  railway  traverse  it 
in  every  direction;  its  prairie  soil  is  of  almost  exhaustless  fertility; 
vast  fields  of  coal  and  quarries  of  stone  are  hid  beneath  it ;  grains  and 
fruits  grow  in  profusion;  churches,  public  schools,  academies  and 
colleges  give  morality  and  intelligence  to  its  people,  and  down  to 
the  spring  of  1861,  though  there  had  been  disastrous  financial 
revulsions,  no  serious  check  had  been  given  to  its  prosperity. 

From  1850  to  1860  the  ratio  of  increase  was,  of  whites,  101.4; 
per  cent;  free  colored,  40.32  per  cent.  Judge  Fuller,  the  able  arid 
patriotic  Adjutant  General,  says  in  his  report  for  1861-2  : 

"From  a  population,  in  1850,  of  851,470,  we  had  increased  to  1,711,951 — more 
than  doubling  our  population  in  one  decade.  Our  real  and  personal  property,  in 
1850,  valued  *t  $156,265,006,  had,  in  1860,  increased  to  $871,800,282 — being  an 
increase  of  $715,595,276,  or  457.93  per  cent.  Our  improved  lands  which,  in  1850, 
were  but  5,039,545  acres,  with  an  estimated  value  of  $96,133,290,  had  increased,  in 
1860,  to  $13,251,473  acres,  with  an  estimated  value  of  $-182,551,072.  The  two  prin 
cipal  staple  products  of  our  soil — wheat  and  corn — had  increased  in  a  similar  ratio — 
the  former  from  9,414,575  bushels,  in  1850,  to  24,159,500  bushels,  in  1800,  and  the 
latter  from  57,646,984  bushels,  in  1850,  to  115,296,779  bushels,  in  I860.  Our 
magnificent  railways,  which  in  1850  were  only  110  miles,  costing  $1,440,507,  had 
extended  in  1860  to  2,867  miles,  at  a  cost  of  $104,944,5(51.  Nor  had  the  progress  of 
our  people  been  confined  to  an  increase  of  population  and  wealth.  In  every  city 
and  town  had  sprung  up,  as  if  by  magic,  the  unmistakable  evidences  of  progress  in 
the  arts  and  sciences.  In  fact,  it  could  be  truly  said  that,  through  the  enlightened 
liberality  of  our  citizens,  the  unfortunate,  the  poor  and  the  helpless,  were  provided 
for  and  educated,  without  money  and  without  price." 

From  its  coal  mines,  which  in  1860  had  just  begun  to  be  fairly 
worked,  were  taken  14,158,120  bushels — an  aggregate  only  below  the 
great  States  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  These  are  items  in  a  pros 
perity  so  great  as  to  be  a  marvel.  A  single  city  had,  in  thirty  years, 
grown  from  a  small  village  around  an  old  fort  to  be  the  first  gram, 
lumber  and  beef  and  pork  entrepot  of  the  continent,  if  not  of  the 
world. 

In  this  march  to  greatness  Illinois  was  not  alone,  but  worthy  com 
peers  were  her  near  sisters,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Iowa  and  Wisconsin. 


BAKER  AND  BENJAMIN.  35 

Yottng  Minnesota  was  whispering  her  golden  promise,  and  Missouri 
was  waiting  until,  free  from  slavery,  she,  too,  could  show  how  States 
are  made. 

In  1861,  came  civil  war  upon  a  scale  of  astounding  magnitude, 
destined,  if  not  to  suspend,  at  least  to  vary,  the  direction  of  its  pros 
perity,  and  the  history  of  the  State  through  this  great  war  demands 
our  attention. 

There  had  been  a  struggle  between  the  opposite  systems  of  free 
and  slave  labor,  which  had  grown  into  antagonism,  extending  into 
literature,  religion,  politics.  Slavery  was  outgrown  by  freedom ;  its 
old  supremacy  was  being  destroyed  by  the  rapid  expansion  of  the 
Free  States,  and  their  growth  in  material  prosperity.  Indeed  the 
rebellion  was  rather  against  the  revelation  of  the  census  tables  than 
against  the  government  of  any  man  or  party.  The  friends  of  slavery 
demanded  that  it  should  be  exempted  from  free  discussion,  and  not 
only  tolerated  but  fostered.  They  claimed  for  it  the  right  to  go, 
under  the  Constitution,  into  the  Territories  of  the  United  States, 
setting  aside  the  long  established  principle  that  it  was  the  creature 
of  local  law  and  could  only  exist  where  covered  by  positive  enact 
ments.  Said  General  Quitman,  "  Slavery  requires  for  its  kind  devel 
opment  a  fostering  government  over  it.  It  can  scarcely  exist 
without  such  development. '  It  was  to  be  accepted  as  good  without 
-question,  for  to  question  was  to  irritate.  Said  Senator  Baker,  of 
Oregon,  to  Senator  Benjamin,  of  Louisiana,  "If  we,  a  free  people, 
"really,  in  our  hearts  and  consciences,  believing  that  freedom  is  better 
for  everything  than  slavery,  do  desire  the  advance  of  free  sentiments, 
and  do  endeavor  to  assist  that  advance  in  a  constitutional,  legal  way, 
is  that  ground  of  separation  ?"  Senator  Benjamin :  "  I  say,  yes." 

As  early  as  1858,  Jefferson  Davis,  the  President  of  the  Southern 
•Confederacy,  organized  by  rebellion,  said,  in  a  speech,  in  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  "  If  an  Abolitionist  be  chosen  President  of  the  United 
States,  you  will  have  presented  to  you  the  question  of  whether  you 
will  permit  the  government  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  your  avowed 
and  implacable  enemies  ?  Without  pausing  for  an  answer,  I  will 
state  my  own  position  to  be,  that  such  a  result  would  be  a  species  of 
revolution,  by  which  the  purposes  of  the  government  would  be 
destroyed,  and  the  observance  of  its  mere  forms  entitled  to  no 
respect.  In  that  event>  in  such  a  manner  as  should  be  most  expe- 


36  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

dient,  I  should  deem  it  your  duty  to  provide  for  your  safety  outside 
of  the  Union  with  those  who  have  already  shown  the  will,  and  would 
have  acquired  the  power  to  deprive  you  of  your  birthright,  and  to 
reduce  you  to  worse  than  the  colonial  dependence  of  your  fathers." 

The  simple  fact  of  the  constitutional  election,  by  the  people,  of  a 
President  holding  that  slavery  was  wrong,  should  be  deemed  occa 
sion  of  revolt.  Mr.  Davis  subsequently  said,  in  conversation  with 
Colonel  Jaques,  "We  seceded  to  escape  the  rule  of  majorities." 

In  the  State  of  Illinois  there  was  to  be  a  contest  which  was  to 
have  most  weighty  influence  in  shaping  the  pending  controversy. 

In  1858,  Abraham  Lincoln  was  put  forward  as  candidate  for  tho 
seat  in  the  national  Senate  about  to  be  vacated  by  the  expiration  of 
the  term  of  Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  who  was  a  candidate  for 
re-election.  These  distinguished  gentlemen  canvassed  the  State  ami 
met,  for  joint  discussion,  at  seven  prominent  places.  Never,  in  the 
history  of  American  politics,  did  a  discussion  so  arrest  the  public 
attention,  and  assume  an  importance  so  truly  national.  Thousands 
crowded  to  hear  the  debates ;  reporters  of  the  leading  newspapers 
of  the  Union  were  in  attendance,  and  the  speeches  were  widely 
copied.  The  discussion  was  termed  by  a  public  journal  "  the  battle 
of  the  giants."  Mr.  Douglas  secured  the  State  Legislature  and 
his  Senatorial  seat,  and  lost  the  Presidency.  Mr.  Lincoln,  carrying 
the  popular  vote  of  the  State,  lost,  nevertheless,  the  Legislature, 
and  was  defeated  for  the  Senatorship,  but  the  nation  had  its  eye, 
upon  him,  and  called  him  to  the  Presidential  chair. 

The  principal  topic  of  discussion  was  Slavery  and  the  Territories, 
Mr.  Lincoln  insisting  that  Congress,  for  the  American  people,  had 
the  right  to  exclude  ity  and  should  do  so ;  Mr.  Douglas  insisting 
that  each  Territory  should  be  left  to  settle  its  own  domestic  institu 
tions  in  its  own  way,  subject  only  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States.  Neither  assumed  the  attitude  of  hostility  to  slavery,  as 
existing  in  States  already  in  the  Union.  Little  did  those  men  know 
that  they  were  consolidating  the  forces  of  the  Union  and  making 
prominent,  and  more  than  ever  sacred,  the  doctrine  of  the  majesty 
of  majorities. 

In  I860,  four  candidates  for  the  Presidential  chair  were  before  the 
American  people — Stephen  A.  Douglas,  of  Illinois ;  Abraham  Lin 
coln,  of  Illinois;  John  C.  Breckinridge,  of  Kentucky;  and  John 


NO  CAUSE  FOR  REVOLUTION.  37 

Bell,  of  Tennessee.  The  contest  was  one  of  the  most  exciting  of 
our  history,  and  resulted  in  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  who  received 
one  hundred  and  eighty  electoral  votes ;  Mr.  Breckinridge,  seventy- 
two;  Mr.  Bell,  thirty-nine;  Mr.  Douglas,  twelve;  Mr.  Lincoln's 
electoral  majority  being  fifty-seven.  The  popular  vote  was,  for  Mr. 
Lincoln,  1,857,610;  Mr.  Douglas,  1,365,976;  Mr.  Breckinridge, 
847,953;  for  Mr.  Bell,  590,631.  The  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
rendered  inevitable  by  the  refusal  of  the  Southern  States  to  submit 
to  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Douglas,  and  the  factious  nomination  of 
Mr.  Breckinridgo,  of  Kentucky. 

Early  in  the  campaign  came  threats  of  disunion,  in  the  event  of 
Mr.  Lincoln's  election ;  the  Southern  States  would  secede  and  form 
an  independent  confederacy,  on  the  ground  that  slavery  would  be 
imperiled  and  Southern  institutions  destroyed  by  longer  union  with 
Free  States.  Tho  historian  who  conce.les  the  right  of  revolution 
searches  In  vain  for  any  reason  in  justification  of  so  grave  a  step  at 
that  time.  Up  to  the  election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  there  had  been  no 
change  in  the  Federal  Constitution,  affecting  the  rights  of  either  sec 
tion  of  the  Republic.  No  statute  had  been  created  by  Congress  in 
opposition  to  a  united  South,  or  against  which  its  representatives  had 
voted  in  a  body.  No  change  had  been  made  in  the  status  of  slavery, 
but,  in  fact,  the  administration,  the  legislature,  the  compromises  and 
the  patronage  of  the  government  hail  steadily  been  in  its  interest.  Its 
area  had  been  broadened  by  compromise,  purchase  and  conquest. 
A  law,  in  the  judgment  of  Northern  men,  of  needless  severity  and 
downright  barbarity,  stood  uuamended  and  un repealed  upon  the 
statute  books,  and  was  everywhere  enforced  in  the  rendition  of  fugi 
tive  slaves.  There  had  been  no  taxation  without  representation,  but 
on  the  contrary,  a  representation  had  been  given,  in  the  South,  to 
what  was  claimed  as  property.  There  had  been  no  interference  with 
the  f/esibm  of  the  press,  of  education,  of  sp2ech,  of  worship,  or  of 
the  elective  franchise.  These  statements  are  conceded  by  Alexander 
II.  Stephens,  one  of  the  most  acute  minds  and  wisest  statesmen  of 
the  South,  and  though  he  subsequently  went  with  his  State,  and  has 
been  the  second  officer  of  the  Confederacy,  his  words  have  lost  none 
of  their  significance.  In  the  convention  of  Georgia,  when  secession 
was  being  discussed,  he  arose  and  said : 

41  This  atep  {the  secession  of  Georgia]   once  taken,  can  never  be  recalled ;  and 


38  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

all  the  baleful  and  withering  consequences  that  must  follow  (as  you  will  see),  will 
rest  on  the  Convention  for  all  coming  time.  When  we  and  our  posterity  shall  see 
our  lovely  South  desolated  by  the  demon  of  war,  which  this  act  of  yours  will  inev 
itably  invite  and  call  forth ;  when  our  green  fields  of  waving  harvests  shall  be  trod 
den  down  by  the  murderous  soldiery  and  fiery  car  of  war  sweeping  over  our  land ; 
our  temples  of  justice  laid  in  ashes ;  all  the  horrors  and  desolations  of  war  upon  us ; 
who  but  this  Convention  will  be  held  responsible  for  it  ?  and  who  but  him  who  shall 
have  given  his  vote  for  this  unwise  and  ill-timed  measure  (as  I  honestly  think  and 
believe)  shall  be  held  to  strict  account  for  this  suicidal  act,  by  the  present  generation,, 
and,  probably,  cursed  and  execrated  by  posterity  for  all  time  to  cornc,  for  the  wide 
and  desolating  ruin  that  will  inevitably  follow  this  act  you  now  propose  to  perpe 
trate  ? 

"Pause,  I  entreat  you,  and  consider,  for  a  moment,  what  reasons  you  can  give 
that  will  even  satisfy  yourselves,  in  calmer  moments ;  what  reasons  can  you  give 
to  your  fellow-sufferers  in  the  calamity  that  it  will  bring  upon  us  ?  What  reasons 
can  you  give  to  the  nations  of  the  earth  to  justify  it?  They  will  be  the  culm  and 
deliberate  judges  in  the  case  ;  and  to  what  cause,  or  one  overt  act,  can  you  name  or 
point,  on  which  to  rest  the  plea  of  justification  ?  What  right  has  the  North  assailed  ? 
What  interest  of  the  South  has  been  invaded  ?  What  justice  has  been  denied  ?  and 
what  claim,  founded  injustice  and  right,  has  been  withheld?  Can  either  of  you, 
to-day,  name  one  governmental  act  of  wrong,  deliberately  and  purposely  done  by  the 
government,  of  which  the  South  has  a  right  to  complain  ?  I  challenge  the  answer  I 
While,  on  the  other  hand,  let  me  show  the  facts  (and,  believe  me,  gentlemen,  I  am 
not  here  the  advocate  of  the  North,  but  I  am  here  the  friend,  the  firm  friend  and 
lover  of  the  South  and  her  institutions,  and  for  that  reason  I  speak  thus  plainly  and 
faithfully,  for  ywrs,  mine,  and  every  other  man's  interest,  the  words  of  truth  and 
soberness),  of  which  I  wish  you  to  judge,  and  I  will  only  state  facts  which  are  clear 
and  undeniable,  and  which  now  stand  as  records  authentic  in  the  history  of  our 
country. 

"  When  we  of  the  South  demanded  the  slave-trade,  or  the  importation  of  Africans 
for  the  cultivation  of  our  lands,  did  they  not  yield  the  right  for  twenty  years  ? 
When  we  asked  a  three-fifth  representation  in  Congress  for  our  slaves,  was  it  not 
granted?  When  we  asked  and  demanded  the  return  of  any  fugitive  from  justice,. 
or  the  recovery  of  those  persons  owing  labor  or  allegiance,  was  it  not  incorporated 
in  the  constitution  ?  and  again  ratified  and  strengthened  in  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law 
of  1840? 

"But,  do  you  reply,  that  in  many  instances  they  have  violated  this  compact,  and 
have  not  been  faithful  to  their  engagements  ?  As  individuals  and  local  communities 
they  rnay  have  done  so,  but  not  by  the  sanction  of  government,  for  that  has  always 
been  true  to  Southern  interests.  Again,  gentlemen,  look  at  another  fact :  When 
we  have  asked  that  more  territory  should  be  added,  that  we  might  spread  the  insti 
tution  of  slavery,  have  they  not  yielded  to  our  demands,  jn  giving  us  Louisiana, 
Florida  and  Texas,  out  of  which  four  States  have  been  carved,  and  ample  territory 
to  be  added  in  due  time,  if  you,  by  this  unwise  and  impolitic  act,  do  not  destroy  thia 


STEPHENS' s  SPEECH.  39 

hope,  and,  perhaps,  by  it  lose  all,  and  have  your  last  slave  wrenched  from  you  by 
stern  military  rule,  as  South  America  and  Mexico  were,  or  by  the  vindictive  decree 
of  universal  emancipation,  which  may  reasonably  be  expected  to  follow  V 

"But,  again,  gentlemen,  what  have  we  to  gain  by  this  proposed  change  of  our  rela 
tion  to  the  general  government?  We  have  always  had  the  control  of  it,  and  can 
yet,  if  we  remain  in  it,  and  are  as  united  as  we  have  been.  We  have  had  a  majority 
of  the  Presidents  choseu  from  the  South,  as  well  as  the  control  and  management  of 
most  of  those  chosen  from  the  North.  We  have  had  sixty  years  of  Southern  Pres 
idents  to  their  twenty-four,  thus  controlling  the  executive  department.  So  of  the 
Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  we  have  had  eighteen  from  the  South  and  but  eleven 
from  the  North  Although  nearly  four  fifths  of  the  judicial  business  has  arisen  in 
the  Free  States,  yet  a  majority  of  the  Court  has  always  been  from  the  South.  This 
we  have  required,  so  as  to  guard  against  any  interpretation  of  the  constitution  unfa 
vorable  to  us  In  like  manner,  we  have  been  equally  watchful  to  guard  our  interests 
in  the  Legislative  branch  of  gevernment.  In  choosing  the  presiding  Presidents  (pro 
tern.}  of  the  Senate,  we  have  had  twenty-four  to  their  eleven.  Speakers  of  the 
House,  we  have  had  twenty-three  and  they  twelve.  While  the  majority  of  the  Rep 
resentatives,  from  their  greater  population,  have  always  been  from  the  North,  yet 
we  have  so  generally  secured  the  Speaker,  because  he,  to  a  great  extent,  shapes  and 
controls  the  legislation  of  the  country.  Nor  have  we  had  less  control  in  every  other 
department  of  the  general  government. 

***»*»****»*• 

"  Leaving  out  of  view,  for  the  present,  the  countless  millions  of  dollars  you  must 
expend  in  a  war  with  the  North,  with  tens  of  thousands  of  your  sons  and  brothers 
slain  in  battle,  and  offered  up  as  sacrifices  on  the  altar  of  your  ambition — and  for 
what,  we  ask  again  ?  Is  it  for  the  overthrow  of  the  American  Government,  estab 
lished  by  our  common  ancestry,  cemented  and  built  up  by  their  sweat  .and  blood,  and 
founded  on  the  broad  principles  of  Rigid,  Justice  and  Hamanity  ?  And  as  such,  I 
must  declare  here,  as  I  have  often  done  before,  and  which  has  been  repeated  by  the 
greatest  and  wisest  of  statesmen  and  patriots,  in  this  and  other  lands,  that  it  is  the 
best  and  freest  government;  the  most  equal  in  its  rig  fits  ;  the  most  just  in  its  decisions  ;  the 
most  lenient  in  its  measure*,  and  the  most  inspiring  in  its  principles  to  elevate  the  race  of 
men,  that  the  sun  of  heaven  cv<  r  shone  upon. 

"  Now,  for  you  to  attempt  to  overthrow  such  a  government  as  this,  under  which 
we  have  lived  for  more  than  three-quarters  of  a  century — in  which  we  have  gained 
our  wealth,  our  standing  as  a  nation,  our  domestic  safety,  while  elements  of  peril 
are  around  us,  with  peace  and  tranquillity  accompanied  with  unbounded  prosperity 
and  rights  unassailcd — is  the  hight  of  madness,  folly  and  wickedness,  to  which  I  c<o!i 
neither  lend  my  sanction  nor  my  vote." 

The  President  elect  stood  upon  a  platform  which  did  not  warrant 
the  apprehension  that  he  would  interfere,  or  sanction  interference 
with  slavery  in  the  States.  It  is  true  he  had  said,  "It  is  my  opin 
ion  that  this  government  cannot  endure,  permanently,  half  slave  and 


4:0  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

half  free,"  but  he  had  also  said,  "  I  now  assure  you  that  I  neither 
then  had,  nor  have,  nor  ever  had,  any  purpose,  hi  .any  way,  of  inter 
fering  with  the  institution  of  slavery  where  it  exists.  I  believe  wo 
have  no  power,  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  or  rather 
under  the  form  of  government  under  which  we  live,  to  interfere  with 
the  institution  of  slavery,  or  any  other  of  the  institutions  r.f  our 
sister  States,  be  they  Free  or  Slave  States."*  If  the  Southern  Sen 
ators  and  Representatives  remained  in  their  places,  lie  was  without 
a  majority  in  Congress,  and  was,  indeed,  dependent  upon  the  courtesy 
of  his  opponents  for  the  confirmation  of  his  cabinet.  lie  was  hedged 
in  upon  every  side,  and  powerless  for  evil  had  it  been  in  his  heart. 

But  madness  ruled  the  hour.  Southern  conspirators  were  bent  on 
securing  what  had  long  been  planned;  viz.,  separation  from  the 
Union.  Mr.  Lincoln's  election  was  made  the  pretext,  and  nciivo 
preparations  were  made.  Unfortunately,  the  President,  Mr.  JV.ichan- 
an,  lacked  that  courage  and  inflexible  purpose  which  the  crisis  de 
manded,  and  cowered  pitcously  before  the  coming  storm.  There 
was  an  understanding  that,  while  he  remained  in  power,  there  should 
be  no  open  assault  upon  the  government,  and  the  old  man  seemed  to 
feel  with  the  ancient  King,  "  Good  is  the  word  of  the  Lord,  if  the.ro 
be  peace  in  my  day."  Arch-conspirators  were  about  his  council 
board.  They  removed  southward  large  stores  of  heavy  ordnance, 
small  arms  and  ammunition,  and  then,  except  where  they  had  reason 
to  believe  the  commanding  officers  in  sympathy  with  them,  removed 
the  garrisons,  leaving  only  a  feeble  handful  of  defenders  at  each 
post.  The  navy  was  scattered  through  all  distant  seas,  and  made  as 
inefficient  as  possible.  A  heavy  debt  was  pressed  upon  an  exhausted 
treasury. 

The  Southern  press,  pulpit  and  rostrum,  were  busy  "firing  the 
Southern  heart,"  and  an  excited  people  was  ready  for  revolt.  Union 
sentiment,  where  it  existed,  was  suppressed  by  violence.  Procla 
mations  of  Governors,  Acts  of  Legislatures  Ordinances  of  Conven 
tions,  followed  in  rapid  succession.  Military  companies  were  formed 
and  drilled,  Southern  Members  of  Congress  resigned  and  returned 
to  their  constituents,  and  State  after  State  declared  itself  out  of  the 
Union. 

*  Spcccli  in  Cincinnati,  September,  1859. 


HUMILIATION  IN  WASHINGTON.  41 

During  these  days,  between  the  election  and  inauguration  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  it  was  humiliating  to  be  in  the  National  Capitol.  Regu 
larly,  for  a  time,  the  conspirators  arose  in  their  places  in  the  Amer 
ican  Congress,  and,  after  the  utterance  of  treasonable  sentiments, 
after  defying  the  government,  they  would  announce  their  State  with 
drawn  from  the  Union,  and  they  then  said  their  mock  farewells  !  And 
all  that  was  borne  by  the  shadow  of  the  government  which  held  the 
power  of  this  great  country  ! 

On  the  2()th  of  December,  1330,  the  Convention  of  South  Carolina 
declared  "  The  Union  now  existing  between  South  Carolina  and 
other  States  of  North  America  is  dissolved,  and  that  the  State  of 
South  Carolina  has  resumed  her  position  among  the  nations  of  the 
earth,  as  a  fVee,  sovereign  and  independent  State,  with  full  power  to 
levy  war  and  conclude  peace,  contract  alliances,  establish  commerce, 
and  to  do  all  other  acts  and  things  which  independent  States  may  of 
right  do." 

On  the  24th,  Governor  Pickens  issued  his  proclamation,  declaring 
"  South  Carolina  is,  and  has  a  right  to  be,  a  free  and  independent 
State,  iui:l,  as  such,  has  a  right  to  levy  war,  conclude  peace,  negr.ti.ite 
treaties,  leagues  and  covenants,  and  ta  do  all  acts  whatever  that 
rightfully  appertain  to  a  free  and  independent  State." 

The  telegraph  carried  the  news  throughout  the  nation  that  the 
chain  of  the  Union  was  broken,  and  men  said,  every  where,  "What 
will  the  government  do?"  The  government  did — nothing!  In  the 
South,  the  intelligence  excited  the  people  as  did  the  display  cf  the 
fiery  cross  the  ancient  Highland  clans.  In  Congress  it  produced 
little  apparent  excitement.  It  was  announced  by  Mr.  Garnet,  of 
Virginia.  The  Pncifis  Railroad  was  the  order  of  the  day,  and  Mr. 
G.  said  that  his  State  would  not  consent  to  be  held  responsible  for 
any  financial  obligation  in  its  construction.  "  Sir,"  said  he, ."  while 
your  Bill  is  under  consideration,  one  of  the  sovereign  States  of  this 
Confederacy  has,  by  the  glorious  act  of  her  people,  withdrawn,  in 
vindication  of  her  rights,  from  the  Union,  as  the  telegraph  announced 
at  half-past  one  to-day."  There  was  applause  by  a  few  conspirators, 
but  most  of  the  members  manifested  utter  indifference.  Boyce  and 
Ashmore,  the  only  remaining  Representatives  cf  the  recusant  State, 
left  their  seats,  exchanged  salutations  with  personal  friends  and  fellow 
malcontents,  and  retired  from  the  Hall  of  Representatives.  Mr.  Bu- 


4:2  PATRIOTISM  OF    ILLINOIS. 

chanan  had  before  him  a  clearly  defined  duty,  namely,  to  enforce 
the  authority  of  the  United  States,  but  his  blood  was  thin  and  ran 
slowly.  He  dared  not,  but  contented  himself  with  mumbling  dreary 
platitudes,  and  prating  about  "  coercion." 

The  telegraph  gave  the  announcement  at  Springfield,  the  home  of 
Mr.  Lincoln,  giving  him  an  intimation  of  the  unwonted  cares  and 
momentous  difficulties  likely  to  environ  his  administration.  He  had 
gauged  the  probabilities  long  before,  and  manifested  neither  surprise 
nor  alarm.  The  Journal,  of  that  city,  supposed  to  reflect  his  views, 
said: 

"  If  South  Carolina  does  not  obstruct  the  collection  of  the  revenue,  at  her  ports, 
or  violate  another  Federal  law,  there  will  be  no  trouble,  and  she  will  not  be  out  of 
the  Union.  If  she  violates  the  law,  then  comes  the  tug  of  war.  The  President  of 
the  United  States,  in  such  an  emergency,  has'  an  imperative  duty  to  perform.  Mr. 
Buchanan  may  shirk  it,  or  the  emergency  may  not  exist  during  his  administration. 
If  not,  then  the  Union  will  last  through  his  term  of  office.  If  the  overt  act,  on  the 
part  of  South  Carolina,  takes  place  on  or  after  the  fourth  day  of  March,  then  the 
duty  of  executing  the  law  will  devolve  upon  Mr.  Lincoln." 

The  influence  of  the  above  paragraph  can  scarcely  be  estimated. 
It  appeared  in  a  newspaper  printed  in  a  little  Western  city,  but  it 
was  understood  to  represent  the  faith  and  purpose  of  the  coming 
Chief  Magistrate.  It  was  widely  copied,  and  loyal  men,  as  they 
read  it,  took  heart  and  hope.  The  Union,  loved  with  unutterable 
love,  should  not  be  lost !  It  would  soon  have  a  President  who  would 
defend  it  to  the  last  extremity !  "  Oh,  that  the  fourth  of  March 
were  come  !"  was  said  by  many,  both  men  and  women.  They  felt 
they  had  done  the  South  no  wrong.  They  would  offer  no  apologies. 
The  threat  of  disunion  should  wring  no  new  abandonment  of  honor, 
no  new  concession  to  wrong !  After  the  manner  prescribed  by  law, 
a  President  had  been  chosen.  If  for  that,  secession  was  attempted, 
it  should  not  be  permitted.  For  the  present,  they  would  wait  and 
hope  that,  at  the  end  of  the  many  months  of  senile  incapacity,  if 
nothing  worse,  the  sinewy  hand  of  the  Western  President  should 
be  laid  heavily  upon  treason. 

On  the  26th  Major  Anderson'evacuated  Fort  Moultrie  and  occupied 
Fort  Sumter.  His  little  force  was  in  the  greatest  peril,  but  rein 
forcements  were  withheld.  Two  days  previously  he  wrote  to  Wash 
ington,  "  When  I  inform  you  that  my  garrison  consists  of  only  sixty 


OCCUPATION  OF  FOKT  SUMTER.  43 

effective  men,  and  we  are  in  a  very  indifferent  work,  the  walls  of 
which  are  only  fourteen  feet  high,  and  that  we  have,  within  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty  yards  of  our  walls,  sand  hills  which  command  our 
works,  and  which  afford  admirable  sites  for  batteries,  and  the  finest 
covers  for  sharpshooters,  and  that,  besides  this,  there  are  numerous 
houses,  some  of  them  within  pistol  shot,  you  will  at  once  see  that  if 
attacked  in  force,  headed  by  any  one  but  a  simpleton,  there  is 
scarcely  a  possibility  of  our  being  able  to  hold  out  long  enough  for 
our  friends  to  come  to  our  succor." 

Fort  Sumter  was  the  key  to  the  Charleston  harbor ;  once  occupied, 
from  it  Moultrie  could  be  knocked  to  pieces,  and  reinforcements  from 
the  sea  prevented.  He  knew  the  keen  eyes  of  the  Charleston  au 
thorities  were  upon  it.  He  plead  for  reinforcements — General  Scott 
seconded  the  appeal.  No — the  act  would  be  construed  as  unfriendly, 
as  a  menace,  and  exasperate  the  South  Carolina  rebels :  must  be 
avoided  ;  and  was !  Major  Anderson  went  on.  improving  Moultrie, 
as  though  he  proposed  to  stay  permanently ;  at  the  same  time  he 
ordered  the  work  being  done  on  Surnter  to  be  pressed  to  early  com 
pletion.  When  notified  by  Captain  Foster  that  all  was  ready,  he  took 
a  responsibility,  the  announcement  of  which  electrified  the  nation. 
Without  specific  instructions  from  the  President  or  Secretary  of 
War,  on  the  26th,  he  gave  orders  to  prepare  for  the  evacuation  of 
Fort  Moultrie.  Night  came;  vessels  were  loaded  with  women, 
children  and  personal  effects.  The  boats  stood  off,  as  if  for  Fort 
Johnson,  but  landed  at  Fort  Sumter.  At  dawn,  all  had  found  the 
new  shelter,  except  a  few  who  remained  to  put  Fort  Moultrie  on  a 
peace  footing.  This  was  effected  by  Captain  Johnson  and  eight 
men,  who  coolly  proceeded  to  dismount  the  heavy  guns,  and  burn 
the  gun  carriages.  Governor  Pinckney  and  the  Convention  took 
alarm  from  the  smoke.  Drums  beat,  the  militia  flew  to  arms,  and 
soon  the  wildest  rumors  were  afloat,  corrected,  however,  by  the  ap 
pearance  of  Captain  Johnson,  in  the  streets  of  Charleston,  who,  on 
behalf  oc  Major  Anderson,  communicated  his  action  to  the  authori 
ties.  It  gave  great  offense  and  was  construed  into  a  threat  of  "  co 
ercion."  A  communication  was  sent  to  Washington,  through  com- 

&  t  O 

missioners,  who  were  instructed  to  demand  of  President  Buchanan 
an  order  remanding  Major  Anderson  to  Moultrie,  but  that  tvas  too 
much,  even  for  him.  The  State  authorities  took  steps  for  the  mime- 


44  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

cliatc  occupancy  of  Castle  Pin^kncy  ami  Fort  Moultric,  which  Major 
Anderson  was  not  authorized  to  prevent.  They  also  seized  the 
various  United  States  and  telegraph  buildings.  Then,  had  the  word 
been  spoken  by  the  President,  Major  Andaraon  could  have  crush vd 
secession  in  its  nest.  His  guns  could  have  prevented  the  erection  of 
those  elaborate  works  which  subsequently  compelled  his  surrender, 
and  the  dishonor  of  the  Hag.  It  is  not  the  province  of  the  historian 
to  speculate,  but  it  is  impossible  to  resist  saying  "  Ah  !  what  might 
have  been !" 

Major  Anderson  was  suddenly  the  most  famous  man  in  the  country, 
and  his  strategic  movement  met  with  hearty  approval  throughout  the 
loyal  States. 

Before  leaving  the  record  of  this  first  stage  of  war,  for  such  it  was, 
it  is  proper  to  recur  to  the  statement  that  Lieut.-General  Scott 
urged  upon  Mr.  Buchanan  the  importance  of  reinforcing  Major 
Anderson,  and  of  strongly  manning  the  seaboard  defenses.  Since  the 
above  the  autobiography  of  the  Lieut.-General  has  come  to  hand., 
and  the  statements  of  the  venerable  hero  are  overwhelmingly  con 
clusive.  On  the  29th  of  October,  1 800,  lie  addressed  Mr.  Buchanan 
a  letter,  in  which,  after  alluding  to  the  probable  nearness  of  outbreak 
to  follow  Mr.  Lincoln's  election,  he  said:  « 

"From  a  knowledge  of  our  Southern  population,  it  is  my  solemn  conviction  that 
there  iri  some  danger  of  an  early  act  of  rashness  preliminary  to  secession ;  \5z.,  the 
seizure  of  some  or  all  of  the  following  forts:  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  on  the 
Mississippi,  below  Mew  Orleans,  both  without  garrisons;  Fort  Morgan,  below  Mobile, 
without  a  garrison  ;  Forts  Pickcns  and  McRac,  Pensacola  harbor,  with  an  insufficient 
garrison  for  one;  Fort  Pulaski,  below  Savannah,  without  a  gariison;  Forts  Moul  trie 
and  Sumtcr,  Charleston  harbor,  the  former  with  an  insufficient  garrison,  the  latter 
without  any,  and  Fort  Monroe,  Hampton  Roads,  without  a  sufficient  gariison.  In 
my  opinion,  all  these  works  should  be  immediately  so  ganisoned  as  to  make  any 
attempt  to  take  any  one  of  them  by  surprise  or  conp  dc  main,  ridiculous." 

Again,  he  says : 

"OcTOiiEn  31. — I  suggested  to  the  Secretary  of  War  that  a  circular  should  be  sent 
at  once  to  such  of  those  forts  as  had  garrisons  to  be  on  the  alert  against  surprises 
and  sudden  assaults." 

A  significant  foot-note  says,  "Permission  not  granted."  On  the 
12th  of  December  he  left  the  bed  to  which  he  had  been  long  con- 


GEXEKAL   SCOTT   AND  THE   GARRISON.  45 

fined  and  repaired  to  Washington.  The  next  clay  he  called  upon  tho 
Seoret.iry  of  "War  and  urged  upon  him — 

"The  same  views;  viz.,  strong  garrisons  in  the  Southern  forts— those  of  Charles 
ton  and  Pcnsacola  harbors  at  once;  those  on  Mobile  Bay  and  the  Mississippi  below 
New  Orleans  next,  etc.  *  *  *  The  Secretary  did  not  concur  in  my  views,  and  I 
begged  him  to  procure  me  an  early  interview  with  the  President,  that  I  might  make 
one  more  effort  to  save  the  forts  and  the  Union.  By  appointment  the  Secretary 
accompanied  me  to  the  President,  Dae.  15th,  when  the  same  topics  were  discussed. 
*  *  *  The  President,  in  reply  to  my  arguments  for  immediately  reinforcing  Fort 
Moultrie  and  sending  a  garrison  to  Fort  Sumter,  said,  in  substance,  the  time  had 
not  arrived  for  doing  so ;  that  he  would  wait  the  action  of  the  convention  of  South 
Carolina,  in  the  expectation  that  a  commission  would  be  appointed  and  sent  to 
negotiate  with  him  and  Congress  respecting  the  secession  of  the  State  and  tho 
property  of  the  United  States  held  within  its  limits;  and  that  if  Congress  should 
decide  against  the  secession  then  he  would  send  a  reinforcement  and  telegraph  the 
commander  (Major  Anderson)  of  Fort  Moultrie  to  hold  the  forts  (Moultiie  and 
Sumter)  against  attack.  And  the  Secretary,  with  animation,  added,  '  We  have  a 
vessel  of  war  (the  Brooklyn)  held  in  readiness  at  Norfolk,  and  he  would  then  send 
three  hundred  men  in  her  from  Fort  Monroe  to  Charleston.'  To  which  I  replied, 
first,  that  so  many  men  could  not  be  withdrawn  from  that  garrison  but  could  bo 
taken  from  New  York ;  next,  that  it  would  then  be  too  late,  as  the  South  Carolina 
commissioners  would  have  the  game  in  their  hands,  by  first  using  and  then  cutting 
the  wires ;  that  as  there  was  not  a  soldier  in  Fort  Sumter  any  handful  of  armed 
secessionists  might  sci/e  and  occupy  it. 

"He.-e  the  renurk  may  be  permitted,  that  if  the  Secretary's  three  hundred  men 
had  then,  or  some  time  later,  been  sent  to  Forts  Moultrie  and  Sumter,  both  would 
now  have  been  in  the  possession  of  the  United  States,  and  not  a  battery  below 
could  have  been  erected  by  the  secessionists ;  consequently  the  access  to  these  forts 
from  the  sea  would  now  (the  end  of  March,  1861,)  be  unobstructed  and  f:ec. 

44  DEC.  30. — Will  the  President  permit  Gen.  Scott,  without  reference  to  the  War 
Department  [foot-note — 'The  Secretary  was  already  suspected']  and  otherwise,  as 
secretly  as  possible,  to  send  two  hundred  and  fifty  recruits  from  New  York  harbor, 
to  reinforce  Fort  Sumter  V  etc.  *  *  *  It  would  have  been  easy  to  reinforce  this 
fort  down  to  about  the  12th  of  February.  In  this  long  delay,  Fort  Moultrie  had 
been  rearmed  and  greatly  strengthened,  etc.  *  *  *  The  difficulty  of  reinforc 
ing  had  thus  been  Increased  ten  or  twelvefold.  First,  the  late  President  (Buchanan) 
refused  to  allow  any  attempt  to  be  made  because  he  was  holding  negotiations  with  lie  South 
Carolina  commissioners,"  etc. — Aul.  Vol.  II. 

There  is  another  quotation  from  the  same  authority,  which  is 
highly  significant: 

"Before  any  resolution  was  taken,  the  late  Secretary  of  the  Navy  making  diffi 
culties  about  the  want  of  suitable  war  vessels,  another  commissioner  from  South 


46  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Carolina  arrived,  causing  further  delay.  When  ali  this  had  passed  away,  Secretaries 
Holt  and  Toucey,  Capt.  Ward  of  the  navy,  and  myself,  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
President  (Buchanan),  settled  upon  the  employment,  under  the  Captain  (who  was 
eager  for  the  expedition)  of  three  or  four  small  steamers  belonging  to  the  coast  sur 
vey.  At  that  time  (late  in  January)  I  have  no  doubt  Capt.  Ward  would  have 
reached  Fort  Sumter  with  all  his  vessels.  But  he  was  kept  back  by  something  like 
a  truce  or  armistice  made  [here]  embracing  Charleston  and  Pensacola  harbors, 
agreed  upon  between  the  late  President  and  certain  principal  secedcrs  of  South 
Carolina,  Florida,  Louisiana,  etc.,  and  that  truce  lasted  to  the  end  of  that  adminis 
tration." 

Alas !  that  the  evidence  should  be  so  conclusive !  Alas  1  that  such 
a  record  must  be  written !  Yet  we  may  even  now  see  the  finger  of 
Providence.  Great  events  were  shaping.  By  the  Calvaries,  and 
through  the  Gethsemanes  of  sorrow  and  purification  was  the  nation 
to  march  reverently  and  penitently  to  the  Bethany  of  its  ascension ! 

Of  course  events  so  momentous  caused  great  anxiety  and  pro 
duced  exciting  discussions,  which  cannot  be  reproduced  in  a  work 
so  specific  in  its  character  as  this  one.  How  did  the  Representatives 
and  Senators  of  Illinois  meet  the  crisis  ?  In  the  Senate  were  Mr. 
Douglas  and  Mr.  Trumbull.  The  former  was  disposed  to  go  as  far 
as  possible  towards  conciliation,  farther  than  his  colleague  would 
have  deemed  proper,  but  they  united  in  condemning  secession.  Mrt 
Douglas,  on  Tuesday,  Dec.  18th,  promptly  moved  to  "lay  over"  a, 
scheme  proposed  by  Senator  Joseph  Lane  of  Oregon,  which  declared 
the  government  unfitted  for  the  exigences  of  the  times,  and  propos 
ing  the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  suggest  remedies  !  Janu 
ary  7th,  in  reviewing  the  speech  of  Senator  Baker,  after  criticising 
the  views  of  the  Republican  party,  he  said  :  "  I  feel  bound,  how 
ever,  and  take  pleasure  in  saying,  that  I  don't  believe  the  Southern 
States  are  in  any  danger^  or  ought  to  have  any  apprehension,  that 
Mr.  Lincoln,  or  his  party  can  do  any  harm  or  render  insecure 
their  rights  to  persons  or  property  anywhere  in  this  country."  In 
that  speech  he  used  the  words  subsequently  so  often  quoted — "War 
is  disunion,  certain,  inevitable.,  final  and  irreversible."  He  made  a 
point  of  keen,  telling,  illustrated  logic,  in  these  words  :  "  The  Pres^ 
ident  in  his  message  first  said  we  could  not  coerce  a  state  to 
remain  in  the  Union,  but  in  a  few  sentences  he  advised  the  acquisi 
tion  of  Cuba.  As  if  we  should  pay  $300,000, 000  for  Cuba,  and  the 
next  day  she  might .  secede  and  re-annex  herself  to  Spain,  and 


SENATOR   DOtTGLAS.  47 

Spain  sell  her  again."  He  (Mr.  Buchanan)  had  admitted  that 
Texas  cost  us  a  war  with  Mexico,  and  10,000  lives,  and  besides,  we 
had  paid  Texas  $10,000,000  for  land  which  she  never  owned." 
Again,  speaking  of  war:  "The  atmosphere  is  full  of  it.  I  have 
determined  that  I  will  do  all  that  is  in  my  power  to  rescue  the 
country  from  such  a  dreadful  fate.  But  I  will  not  consider  this 
question  of  war  till  all  hope  of  peaceable  adjustment  fails.  Better^ 
a  thousand  times  better,  that  all  political  parties  be  disbanded  and 
dissolved.  Better  that  every  public  man  now  in  existence  be  con 
signed  to  retirement  and  political  martyrdom,  than  this  government 
should  be  dissolved,  and  this  country  plunged  in  civil  war.  I  trust 
we  are  to  have  no  war  for  a  platform.  I  can  fight  for  my  country, 
but  there  never  was  a  political  platform  that  I  would  go  to  war  for. 
I  fear  if  this  country  is  to  be  wrecked  it  is  to  be  done  by  those 
who  prefer  party  to  their  country."  Later,  in  reply  to  Mr.  Wigfall, 
of  Texas,  he  said :  "  The  senator  (Wigfall)  had  better  read  the 
Constitution  again,  then  let  him  tell  me  where  he  finds  the  power 
given  to  this  government  to  protect  horses,  or  cattle,  or  merchan 
dise,  or  slaves,  or  any  species  of  property  in  any  state  or  territory 
of  this  Union  ?"  Until  the  close  of  Congress  he  earnestly  sought 
to  secure  peace,  by  such  amendments  to  the  Constitution  as  would 
forever  place  slavery  without  the  bar  of  Congressional  action  or 
Federal  controversy. 

Mr.  Trumbull,  his  colleague,  was  an  able  and  ardent  advocate  of 
the  policy  of  the  party  which  had  elected  Mr.  Lincoln,  yet  he  was 
conciliatory,  though  bating  not  one  jot  of  Federal  authority.  He 
said  in  a  speech  on  the  night  of  March  3d,  that  there  would  have 
been  no  triumphant  secession  but  for  complicity  with  treason  in  the 
very  cabinet  of  the  government.  The  President  received  commis 
sioners  Avho,  under  any  other  government  would  have  been  hung  for 
treason,  and  that,  not  until  the  last  moment,  when  forced  to  take 
sides,  and  either  join  the  secessionists  and  let  Major  Anderson 
perish,  or  to  meet  the  anger  of  his  countrymen,  did  the  President 
declare  for  the  Union.  Speaking  of  compromise  he  said,  if  they 
wanted  anything  let  them  go  back  to  the  Missouri  Compromise  and 
stand  to  it.  All  agreed  that  Congress  had  not  the  right  to  interfere 
with  slavery  in  the  States.  But  he  would  never,  by  his  vote,  make 
one  slave,  and  the  people  of  the  great  Northwest  would  never  con- 


48  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

sent  by  their  act,  to  establish  slavery  anywhere.  He  did  not  be 
lieve  the  Constitution  needad  amending,  but  was  willing  to  vo'.c  a 
recommendation  to  the  States  to  make  a  proposal  to  call  a  conven 
tion  to  consider  amendments.  His  position  was  clea  ly  defined; 
viz.,  peace,  if  possible;  government  in  the  Union  at  all  hazard:-?. 

In  the  popular  branch  were  several  members  of  prominence. 
There  was  O\ven  Lovejoy,  a  primitive  anti-slavery  m.vn,  who  had 
been  bereaved  of  a  brother  by  a  pro-slavery  mob.  John  A.  Logan 
and  Vfr.  Me  demand,  both  of  whom  became  M;rpr  Generals  of  U. 
S.  Volunteers,  were  in  opposition  to  the  Republican  party, 
both  conservative,  and  Mr.  Logan  opposed  to  coercion.  M;\  Mor 
ris,  Mr.  Kellogg  and  Mr.  Washburnc  were  also  prominent.  Mr. 
Lovejoy,  considered  one  of  the  most  radical  of  the  extreme  aboli 
tionists,  on  the  17th  of  December,  offered,  and  pressed  to  a  vote,  the 
following: 

"  WHEREAS,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  is  the  supremo  hw  of  the 
land,  and  its  ready  and  faithful  obedience  a  duty  of  all  good  aiid  law-abiding  citi 
zens;  therefore, 

"  llfisolvcd,  that  we  deprecate  the  spirit  of  disobedience  to  the  Constitution. 
wherever  manifested,  and  that  we  earnestly  recommend  the  repeal  of  all  nullifica 
tion  laws  ;  and  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  President  to  protect  and  dsfjnd  the  pro 
pcrty  of  the  United  States." 

The  conspirators  were  much  annoyed  by  this  flank  movement  of 
"an  extremist"  and  generally  refused  to  vote,  but  without  them  it 
was  passed  by  an  affirmative  vote  of  124,  none  voting  nay.  On  the 
same  day  Mr.  Morris,  for  the  third  time,  brought  forward  his  Union 
resolution  declaring  "  the  immense  value  of  the  nation:;!  Union," 
that  "  we  will  frown  iipon  the  first  dawning  of  every  attempt  to 
alienate  any  portion  of  our  country  from  the  rest,  or  enfeeble  the 
sacred  ties  which  now  link  together  the  various  parts,"  and  added, 
"nor  do  we  see  anything  in  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the 
Presidency  of  the  United  States,  or  from  any  other  existing  cause  to 
justify  its  dissolution,"  &c.,  which  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  115  to 
44.  It  is  singular  to  find  among  the  nays  that  of  Daniel  Sickles, 
subsequently  a  gallant  and  able  Major-General  of  the  Union  army. 
Later,  Mr  Lovejoy  made  a  remark  in  caucus  which  has  become 
famous  among  the  memorable  sayings  which  the  war  lias  occa 
sioned.  He  was  speaking  of  a  proposition  to  divide  the  country  to 
the  Pacific  between  freedom  and  slavery,  and  in  his  own  peculiar 


LOVE  JOS"   ON   THE   KEVoLf.  49 

Way  said,  "  There  never  was  a  more  causeless  revolt  since  Lucifer 
led  his  cohorts  of  apostate  angels  against  the  throne  of  God ;  but  I 
never  heard  that  the  Almighty  proposed  to  compromise  the  matter 
by  allowing  the  rebels  to  kindle  the  fires  of  hell  south  of  the  celes 
tial  meridian  of  36°  30' !"  Mr.  Logan  has  been  spoken  of  as 
opposed  to  coercive  measures  at  the  outset,  but  when  the  vote  was 
called  upon  a  resolution  approving  the  act  of  Major  Anderson  in 
removing  from  Fort  Moultrie  and  also  pledging  to  "  support  the 
President  in  all  constitutional  measures  to  enforce  the  laws,  and 
preserve  the  Union,"  he  said  in  answering  to  his  name,  "  As  the  res 
olution  merits  my  unqualified  approval,  I  vote  aye." 

The  record  of  Kellogg,  McClernand,  Washburne,  <fcc.,  during  that 
memorable  session,  the  last  of  the  XXXVI.  Congress,  need  not  be 
transcribed.  Whatever  theoretical  differences  may  have  divided 
them,  when  war  really  came  they  were  found  unflinching  on  the 
side  of  the  Union. 

The  position  of  the  Governor  and  other  state  authorities,  will  be 
seen  in  a  subsequent  chapter.  It  is  enough  to  say  that  there  was  no 
doubt  in  what  direction  the  hearty  influence  of  the  Illinois  Execu 
tive  would  be  thrown.  This  introductory  chapter  will  be  fitly 
closed  with  a  statement  of  the  principal  events  down  to  the  close  of 
Mr.  Buchanan's  administration. 

On  the  28th  of  December  South  Carolina  troops  occupied  Fort 
Moultrie  and  Castle  Pinckney,  and  the  Palmetto  flag  was  hoisted 
on  the  ramparts,  instead  of  the  honored  national  colors.  The  en 
suing  day  John  B.  Floyd  resigned  Ms  place  in  the  cabinet,  as  Sec 
retary  of  War,  charging,  with  an  impudence  unparalleled,  that  the 
President,  by  declining  to  remove  Major  Anderson,  and  to  with 
draw  the  Federal  troops  from  Charleston  Harbor,  designed  to 
plunge  the  country  into  civil  war!  He  said,  "I  cannot  consent  to 
be  the  agent  of  such  a  calamity."  On  the  same  day  the  South  Caro 
lina  Commissioners  presented  their  official  credentials  which,  on 
the  next  day«were  declined.  On  the  1st  day  of  January,  1861,  the 
loyal  press  rang  with  warning  that  the  Capital  was  in  danger  of 
seizure  by  armed  rebels,  and  called  for  instant  and  efficient  mea 
sures  for  its  protection.  On  the  2d  it  was  announced  that  Lieut.  - 
General  Scott  had  taken  steps  to  organize  the  militia  of  the  District 
©f  Columbia,  and  that  regulars  had  been  placed  in  the  navy  yard 


50  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

and  other  precautions  taken  against  surprise  or  revolution.  On  the 
same  day  came  telegraphic  information  that  Georgia  had  declared 
for  secession,  and  that  Georgia  troops  had  taken  possession  of  the 
U.  S.  Arsenal  in  Augusta,  and  Forts  Pulaski  and  Jackson.  Gover 
nor  Ellis,  of  North  Carolina,  seized  the  forts  at  Beaufort  and  Wil 
mington,  and  the  arsenal  at  Fayetteville,  stating  with  Floyd-like 
truthfulness  that  he  did  so  to  protect  them  from  mobs !  On  the  3d 
the  South  Carolina  Commissioners  departed  from  the  Capitol.  On 
the  5th  it  was  announced  that  enrollments  of  men  to  aid  the  govern 
ment  in  enforcing  the  laws  and  maintaining  the  union  of  the  States 
were  progressing  in  the  Northern  cities.  The  Alabama  and  Mis 
sissippi  delegations  in  Congress,  who  had  met  the  preceding  even 
ing,  telegraphed  the  conventions  of  their  respective  states,  advising 
them  to  secede,  stating  there  was  no  prospect  of  satisfactory  adjust 
ment.  The  steamer  "  Star  of  the  West,"  sailed  secretly  from  New 
York  with  supplies  and  reinforcements  for  Fort  Sumter.  Com 
panies  of  Federal  troops  were  being  concentrated  in  and  about 
Washington,  and  the  public  began  to  hope  that  at  last  Mr, 
Buchanan  would  prove  himself  worthy  of  honorable  mention  in 
American  history.  On  the  7th  the  conventions  of  Alabama,  Mis 
sissippi  and  Tennessee  met.  On  the  8th  Secretary  Thompson 
resigned  his  seat  in  the  Cabinet,  on  the  ground  that,  contrary  to 
promise,  troops  had  been  sent  to  Major  Anderson.  On  the  next 
day  the  "  Star  of  the  West "  was  fired  into  from  Fort  Moultrie  and 
Morris  Island,  and  turned  homeward,  leaving  Sumter  and  its 
gallant  defenders.  Henceforward  events  crowd  with  fearful 
rapidity,  of  which  only  a  few  can  be  recorded.  The  ordinance  of 
secession  passed  the  Mississippi  convention  on  the  9th,  that  of 
Florida,  purchased  with  Union  gold,  on  the  10th,  and  that  of  Ala 
bama  on  the  llth.  The  same  day  witnessed  the  resignation  of  Mr. 
Thomas,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  the  seizure  by  the  rebels  of 
the  arsenal  at  Baton  Rouge,  and  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River,  and  Fort  Pike  at  trfe  Lake  Pon- 
chartrain  entrance.  On  the  13th  the  Pensacola  Navy  Yard  and 
Fort  Barrancas  were  surrendered  to  rebel  troops  by  Col.  Arm 
strong.  Lieut.  Slemmer,  who  had  withdrawn  his  command  from 
Fort  McRae  to  Fort  Pickens  defied  Armstrong's  orders,  and  an 
nounced  his  intention  to  hold  his  post  at  all  hazards.  On  the  16th 


TROOPS   TENDERED   AtfD   DECLINED.  51 

Major-General  Sandford,  of  New  York,  tendered  the  President  and 
General  Scott  the  service  of  the  first  division  of  N.  Y.  Militia,  well 
armed  and  disciplined,  and  numbering  seven  thousand.  On  the 
18th  came  a  voice  from  Massachusetts,  her  Legislature  unanimously 
tendering  the  President  all  the  men  and  money  required  to  maintain 
the  authority  of  the  Federal  Government,  and  declaring  that  South 
Carolina,  in  seizing  the  national  fortifications  with  the  Post  Office  and 
Custom  House, and  in  firing  upon  a  vessel  in  the  IT.  S.  service,  had 
been  guilty  of  an  act  of  war.  And  so  it  had  as  truly  as  when,  later, 
fire  was  opened  upon  Port  Sumter.  The  Georgia  Convention  voted 
the  secession  ordinance  on  the  1 9th.  On  the  20th  it  was  announced  in 
Washington  that  a  "  thousand  allied  troops  "  were  besieging  Lieut. 
Slemmer  and  his  command  in  Fort  Pickens.  On  the  24th  the 
Augusta  Arsenal  was  seized  by  Georgia  authorities.  The  next  day 
the  Louisiana  ordinance  of  secession  passed  the  convention.  On  the 
30th  the  revenue  cutters,  Cass  and  McClelland,  were  betrayed  by 
their  commanders  into  the  hands  of  Louisiana  and  Alabama  rebel 
officers.  On  the  1st  of  February  the  IT.  S.  Mint  and  Custom 
House  at  New  Orleans  were  seized,  and  the  same  day  the  Texas 
Convention  voted  that  state  out  of  the  Union.  On  the  4th  the 
<c  Peace  Convention  "  assembled  in  Washington,  and  the  Congress 
of  seceded  States  met  in  Montgomery,  Ala.,  and  John  Tyler  was 
chosen  President  of  the  former.  On  the  9th  a  provisional  Constitu 
tion  was  adopted  at  Montgomery,  it  being  the  U.  S.  constitution 
varied  to  suit  the  purposes  of  treason.  Jeiferson  Davis,  of  Mis* 
sissippi,  was  chosen  President,  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  despite 
the  sentiments  of  his  speech  already  quoted,  Vice-President  of  the 
* l  Confederate  States  of  North  America. "  And  yet  the  President 
of  the  United  States  saw  no  occasion  to  employ  the  troops  tendered 
him !  The  government  was  going  to  pieces,  and  he  was  trembling 
with  fear,  not  daring  to  strike,  when  a  single  blow  might  have 
crushed  rebellion  and  saved  the  nation  its  terrible  ordeal  of  blood. 
On  the  llth  Mr.  Lincoln  left  his  home  for  Washington;  of  his  jour 
ney  the  next  chapter  will  speak.  On  the  18th  Jefferson  Davis  was 
inaugurated  President  of  the  C.  S.  A.  On  the  25th  it  was  ascer 
tained  that  General  Twiggs,  commanding  the  department  of  Texas, 
had  basely  be' rayed  his  trust  and  given  up  all  the  military  posts, 
munition^  arms,  &<v,  to  the  authorities  of  Texas.  On  the  3d  of 


52  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

March,  at  midnight,  the  term  of  James  Buchanan  expired.  His  ad 
ministration  commenced  with  a  prosperous  country,  a  full  treasury, 
and  a  triumphant  party.  He  went  out  with  the  latter  beaten,  the 
treasury  empty,  the  nation  in  debt,  and  the  country  tossing  in  the 
agony  of  disruption.  He  sacrificed  Mr.  Douglas  and  was  in  turn 
sacrificed  by  his  Southern  allies.  It,  perhaps,  remains  to  be  seen 
whether  his  closing  months  of  power  gave  the  country  an  adminis 
tration  controlled  by  fear  of  the  solemn  responsibilities  of  the  crisis 
or  something  worse.  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  nation  thanked  God 
and  took  courage  at  twelve  o'clock  on  the  night  of  March  3,  1861* 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE  ILLINOIS  PRESIDENT. 

ABRAHAM  LINCOLN — EARLY  HISTORY — REMOVALS — TASTE  OF  WAR — CANDIDACY — A 
SURVEYOR — MEMBER  OP  ILLINOIS  LEGISLATURE — INTERNAL  IMPROVEMENT — PRIVATE 
LIFE — IN  CONGRESS — WILMOT  PROVISO — NEBRASKA  BILL — His  OPPOSITION — MIS 
SOURI  COMPROMISE — PEORIA  SPEECH — PROPHETIC  WORDS — RIGHT  AND  WRONG — BILL 
OF  EXCEPTIONS  TO  SLAVERY — THE  FATHERS — SENATORIAL  ELECTION — CONTEST  OF 
1858 — THE  DIVIDED  HOUSE  SPEECH — THE  WAY  OF  PROVIDENCE — LEADERS  FOR  CRI 
SES — His  CHARACTERISTICS — NATIONAL  REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION — WIGWAM — SEW- 
ARD  AND  LINCOLN — NOMINATION — LEAVING  SPRINGFIELD — INVOCATION  OF  PRAYER — 
His  FAREWELL — THE  JOURNEY — SPEECHES — AT  INDIANAPOLIS — CINCINNATI — NEW 
YORK — TRENTON — PHILADELPHIA — IN  WASHINGTON — INAUGURATION — THE  INAUGU 
RAL  ADDRESS — CABINET — SUMTER — SURRENDER — A  LOWERED  FLAG — ONLY  A  Mo- 


THE  eyes  of  the  Nation  had  been,  from  November,  turned 
toward  Springfield,  the  capital  of  Illinois,  where  resided  the 
President  elect.  Illinois  had  given  the  Republic  the  first  Northern 
President  who  was  destined  to  a  re-election.  Of  necessity  our  his 
tory  must  make  some  mention  of  him  who,  the  nation's  chief 
magistrate  and  commander-in-chief  of  its  army  and  navy,  is  yet  of 
Illinois,  whom  she  received  when  a  young  man ;  who  developed  into 
mature  strength  on  her  prairies — ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

He  was  born  in  Hardin  County,  Kentucky,  February  12,  1809. 
In  1816  his  father  removed  to  what  is  now  Spencer  County,  Indiana, 
and  cleared  his  farm  from  the  dense  timber  of  that  part  of  the  State. 
Here  the  future  statesman  underwent  the  discipline  of  sturdy  toil 
and  patient  labor.  In  1830  his  father  removed  to  Illinois,  and  "lo 
cated"  on  new  land  about  ten  miles  northwest  of  Decatur  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Sangamon,  where  timber  and  prairie  are  blended. 
His  boyhood  had  few  privileges  of  school  or  culture  in  books,  and 
he  was  emphatically  "self-made."  In  1832  he  volunteered  in  the 
noted  Black-Hawk  war  and  was  captain  of  a  company.  He  served 
three  months,  but  was  in  no  engagement  with  the  enemy.  Return- 


54:  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS, 

ing  home,  he  became  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  Legislature  only 
ten  days  before  election,  but  being  an  Adams  man,  he  was  defented, 
though  in  his  own  precinct  he  received  more  votes  than  both  rival 
candidates  for  Congress.  He  was  sometime  engaged  in  surveying, 
and  in  1834  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  to  which  he  was  subse 
quently  thrice  chosen,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  practical  work  of 
the  people's  representative. 
Says  one  of  his  biographers : 

"  The  period  embraced  by  the  eight  years  in  which  Lincoln  represented  Sangamon 
County,  was  one  of  the  greatest  material  activity  in  Illinois.  So  early  as  1820,  the 
young  State  was  seized  with  the  'generous  rage'  for  public  internal  improvements 
then  prevalent  in  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  and  in  its  sessions  for  a  score 
of  succeeding  years,  the  Legislature  was  occupied  by  the  discussion  of  various 
schemes  for  enhancing  the  prosperity  of  the  State.  The  large  canal  uniting  the 
waters  of  Lake  Michigan  and  the  Illinois  River  was  completed  at  a  cost  of  more  than 
eight  millions.  By  a  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Public  Works,  specially  created, 
provisions  were  made  for  expensive  improvements  of  the  Wabash,  Illinois,  Ro«kr 
Kaskaskia  and  the  Little  Wabash,  and  the  great  Western  mail  route  from  Vincennes 
to  St.  Louis.  Under  the  charge  of  the  same  Board,  six  railroads,  connecting  princi 
pal  points,  were  projected,  and  appropriations  made  for  their  completion  at  an 
immense  outlay. 

"  One  effect  of  a  policy  so  wild  and  extravagant  was  to  sink  the  State  in  debt. 
Another  was  to  attract  vast  immigration,  and  fill  up  her  broad  prairies  with  settlers. 
Individuals  were  ruined;  the  corporate  State  became  embarrassed;  but  benefits 
have  resulted  in  a  far  greater  degree  than  could  have  been  hoped  when  the  crash 
first  came.  It  is  not  yet  time  to  estimate  the  ultimate  good  to  be  derived  from  these 
improvements,  though  the  immediate  evil  has  been  tangible  enough. 

"The  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  is  not  found  recorded  in  favor  of  the  more  vis 
ionary  of  these  schemes,  but  he  has  always  favored  public  improvements,  and  his 
voice  was  for  whatever  project  seemed  feasible  and  practical.  During  his  first  terra 
of  service,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Accounts  and  Expendi 
tures.  He  voted  for  a  bill  to  incorporate  agricultural  societies ;  for  the  improvement 
ef  public  roads ;  for  the  incorporation  of  various  institutions  of  learning ;  for  the 
construction  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal ;  he  always  fostered  the  interests  of 
public  education,  and  favored  low  salaries  for  public  officials.  In  whatever  pertained 
to  the  local  benefit  of  his  own  County,  he  was  active  and  careful ;  but  his  record 
on  this  subject  is  of  little  interest  to  the  general  reader. 

"  Lincoln's  voice  was  ever  for  measures  that  relieved  the  struggling  poor  man  from 
pecuniary  or  political  difficulties — he  had  himself  experienced  these  difficulties — he 
therefore  supported  resolutions  for  the  removal  of  the  property  qualification  in  fran 
chise,  and  for  the  granting  of  pre-emption  rights  to  settlers  on  the  public  lands.  He 
was  the  author  of  a  measure  permitting  Revolutionary  pensioners  to  loan  their  pen- 


LINCOLN'S  PEORIA  SPEECH.  55 

elon  money  without  taxation.  He  advocated  a  bill  exempting  from  execution  Bibles, 
school-books,  and  mechanics'  tools. 

"His  first  recorded  vote  against  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  was  on  the  election  of  that 
politician  to  the  Attorney  Generalship  by  the  Legislature. 

"He  twice  voted  for  the  Whig  candidates  for  the  United  States  Senate.  Other 
wise  than  in  the  election  of  Senators,  State  Legislatures  were  not  then  occupied 
with  national  affairs,  and  it  is  difficult  to  find  anything  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  legislative 
history  which  is  of  great  national  interest.  There  were  no  exciting  questions,  and 
Mr.  Lincoln's  speeches  were  few  and  brief.*  He  was  twice  the  candidate  (in  1838 
and  1840)  of  the  Whig  minority  for  Speaker  of  the  House."f 

For  six  years  he  remained  in  private  life,  devoting  himself  to  the 
practice  of  law,  which  he  had  studied.  In  1844  he  canvassed  his 
State  in  behalf  of  the  Whig  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  In  1847 
he  took  his  seat  in  Congress,  the  only  Whig  Representative  from 
Illinois,  which  then  had  seven  members  in  the  House  of  Represen 
tatives.  He  was  a  staunch  advocate  of  the  Wilmot  Proviso,  showing, 
in  1847,  the  same  care  to  secure  the  Territories  to  freedom  which  he 
manifested  in  the  Kansas  struggle  and  in  1860.  He  declined  candi 
dacy  for  re-election.  In  1849  he  received  the  vote  of  his  party  in 
the  Legislature  for  the  U.  S.  Senate. 

In  1854  the  celebrated  Nebraska  Bill  was  passed,  rallying  anew 
and  into  permanent  organization  the  opposition  to  slavery.  In  his 
celebrated  "  Peoria  speech"  he  went  fully  into  the  principles  involved 
in  the  proposed  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise.  He  was  reply 
ing  to  Senator  Douglas  and  showing  the  results  of  the  repeal.  The 
following  words  there  spoken  on  that  16th  of  October,  1854,  sound 
now,  that  ten  years  have  gone,  like  history  written  "before  the 
fact." 

"In  this  state  of  affairs  the  Genius  of  Discord  himself  could  scarcely  have  invented 
a  way  of  again  setting  us  by  the  ears,  but  by  turning  back  and  destroying  the  peace 
measures  of  the  past.  The  counsels  of  that  Genius  seem  to  have  prevailed ;  the 
Missouri  Compromise  was  repealed ;  and  here  we  are,  in  the  midst  of  a  new  slavery 
agitation,  such,  I  think,  as  we  have  never  seen  before.  Who  is  responsible  for  this? 
Is  it  those  who  resist  the  measure  ?  or  those  who,  causelessly,  brought  it  forward,  and 
pressed  it  through,  having  reason  to  know,  and,  in  fact,  knowing,  it  must  and  would 

*A  protest  from  Mr.  Lincoln  appears  on  the  journal  of  the  House,  in  regard  to 
some  resolutions  which  had  passed.  In  this  protest  he  pronounces  distinctly  against 
slavery,  and  takes  the  first  public  step  toward  what  is  now  Republican  doctrine. 

f  Howell's  Life  of  Lincoln. 


56  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

be  so  resisted  ?  It  could  not  but  be  expected  by  its  author,  that  it  would  be  looked 
upon  as  a  measure  for  the  extension  of  slavery,  aggravated  by  a  gross  breach  of 
faith. 

"  Argue  as  you  will,  and  long  as  you  will,  this  is  the  naked  FRONT  and  ASPECT  of  the 
measure.  And,  in  this  aspect,  it  could  but  produce  agitation.  Slavery  is  founded  in 
the  selfishness  of  man's  nature — opposition  to  it,  in  his  love  of  justice.  These  principles 
are  in  eternal  antagonism ;  and,  when  brought  into  collision  so  fiercely  as  slavery 
extension  brings  them,  shocks,  and  throes,  and  convulsions  must  ceaselessly  follow. 
Repeal  the  Missouri  Compromise — repeal  all  compromises — repeal  the  Declaration  of 
Independence — repeal  all  past  history — you  still  cannot  repeal  human  nature.  It 
still  will  be  the  abundance  of  man's  heart  that  slavery  extension  is  wrong,  and, 
out  of  the  abundance  of  his  heart,  his  mouth  will  continue  to  speak. 

************* 

"And,  really,  what  is  the  result  of  this?  Each  party  WITHIN  having  numerous 
and  determined  backers  WITHOUT,  is  it  not  probable  that  the  contest  will  come  to 
blows  and  bloodshed  ?  Could  there  be  a  more  apt  invention  to  bring  about  collision 
and  violence,  on  the  slavery  question,  than  this  Nebraska  project  is  ?  I  do  not 
charge  or  believe  that  such  was  intended  by  Congress;  but  if  they  had  literally 
formed  a  ring,  and  placed  champions  within  it  to  fight  out  the  controversy,  the 
fight  could  be  no  more  likely  to  come  off  than  it  is.  And  if  this  fight  should  begin, 
is  it  likely  to  take  a  very  peaceful,  Union-saving  turn  ?  Will  not  the  first  drop  of 
blood,  so  shed,  be  the  real  knell  of  the  Union  ? 

"The  Missouri  Compromise  ought  to  be  restored.  For  the  sake  of  the  Union,  it 
ought  to  be  restored.  We  ought  to  elect  a  House  of  Representatives  which  will 
vote  its  restoration.  If,  by  any  means,  we  omit  to  do  this,  what  follows  ?  Slavery 
may  or  may  not  be  established  in  Nebraska.  But  whether  it  be  or  not,  we  shall  have 
repudiated — discarded  from  the  councils  of  the  nation — the  SPIRIT  of  COMPROMISE, 
for  who,  after  this,  w'dl  ever  trust  in  a  national  compromise  ?  The  spirit  of  mutual  con 
cession — that  spirit  which  first  gave  us  the  Constitution,  and  which  has  thrice  saved 
the  Union — we  shall  have  strangled  and  cast  from,  us  forever.  And  what  shall  we 
have  in  lieu  of  it  ?  The  South,  flushed  with  triumph  and  tempted  to  excesses ;  the 
North,  betrayed,  as  they  believe,  brooding  on  wrong  and  burning  for  revenge.  One 
side  will  provoke,  the  other  resent.  The  one  will  taunt,  the  other  defy ;  one  ag 
gresses,  the  other  retaliates.  Already  a  few  in  the  North  defy  all  Constitutional 
restraints,  resist  the  execution  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  law,  and  even  menace  the  insti 
tution  of  slavery  in  the  States  where  it  exists.  Already  a  few  in  the  South  claim 
the  Constitutional  right  to  take  to  and  hold  slaves  in  the  Free  States ;  demand  the 
revival  of  the  slave-trade  ;  and  demand  a  treaty  with  Great  Britain,  by  whicli  fugi 
tive  slaves  may  be  reclaimed  from  Canada.  As  yet  they  are  but  few  on  either  side. 
It  is  a  grave  question  for  the  lovers  of  the  Union,  whether  the  final  destruction  of 
the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  with  it  the  spirit  of  all  compromise,  will  or  will  not 
embolden  and  embitter  each  of  these,  and  fatally  increase  the  number  of  both." 
In  the  extract  which  follows  we  find,  blended  with  a  conservatism 


NEBRASKA   BILL    IMMORAL.  57 

so  strong  that  it  was  not  willing  to  see  disturbed  the  Fugitive  Slave 
Law,  because  it  resulted  from  a  compromise,  and,  odious  as  were 
some  of  its  provisions,  he  would  abide  the  compact,  that  honest 
m  inly  sense  of  right  which  has  been  so  marked  a  characteristic  of 
Mr.  Lincoln ; — devotion  to  the  right  because  it  is  right. 

"  Some  men,  mostly  Whigs,  who  condemn  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise, 
nevertheless  hesitate  to  go  for  its  restoration,  lest  they  be  thrown  in  company  with 
the  Abolitionists.  Will  they  allow  me,  as  an  old  Whig,  to  tell  them,  good-humoredly 
that  I  think  this  is  very  silly  ?  Stand  by  anybody  that  stands  RIGHT.  Stand  with 
him  while  he  is  right,  and  PART  with  him  when  he  is  WRONG.  Stand  WITH  the  Aboli 
tionist  in  restoring  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  stand  AGAINST  him  when  he  attempts 
to  repeal  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law.  In  the  latter  case  you  stand  with  the  Southern 
disunionist.  What  of  that  ?  you  are  still  right.  In  both  cases  you  are  right.  In 
both  cases  you  oppose  the  dangerous  extremes.  In  both  you  stand  on  middle  ground, 
and  hold  the  ship  level  and  steady.  In  both  you  are  national,  and  nothing  less  than 
national.  This  is  the  good  old  Whig  ground.  To  desert  such  ground  because  of 
any  company,  is  to  be  less  than  a  Whig — less  than  a  man — less  than  an  American." 

The  most  ultra  enemy  of  slavery,  as  interpreted  in  the  red  glare 
of  four  years  of  civil  war,  now  scarcely  surpasses  the  sentiments  of 
ten  years  ago  as  further  expressed : 

"I  particularly  object  to  the  NEW  position  which  the  avowed  principle  of  this  Ne 
braska  law  gives  to  slavery  in  the  body  politic.  I  object  to  it  because  it  assumes 
that  there  CAN  BE  A  MORAL  RIGHT  in  the  enslaving  of  one  man  by  another.  I  object 
to  it  as  a  dangerous  dalliance  for  a  free  people — a  sad  evidence  that,  feeling  pros 
perity  we  forget  right — that  liberty,  as  a  principle,  we  have  ceased  to  revere.  I 
object  to  it,  because  the  fathers  of  the  Republic  eschewed  and  rejected  it.  The 
argument  of  '  necessity,'  was  the  only  argument  they  ever  admitted  in  favor  of 
slavery,  and  so  far,  and  so  far  only,  as  it  carried  them  did  they  ever  go.  They  found 
the  institution  existing  among  us,  which  they  could  not  help,  and  they  cast  the  blame 
upon  the  British  king  for  having  permitted  its  introduction.  BEFORE  the  Constitu 
tion  they  prohibited  its  introduction  into  the  Northwestern  Territory,  the  only  coun 
try  we  owned  then  free  from  it.  AT  the  framing  and  adoption  of  the  Constitution, 
they  forebore  to  so  much  as  mention  the  word  'slave,' or  'slavery,' in  the  whole 
instrument.  In  the  provision  for  the  recovery  of  fugitives,  the  slave  is  spoken  of 
as  a  'person  held  to  service  or  labor.'  In  that  prohibiting  the  abolition  of  the 
African  slave-trade  for  twenty  years,  that  trade  is  spoken  of  as  '  the  migration  or 
importation  of  such  persons  as  any  of  the  States  NOW  EXISTING  shall  think  proper  to 
admit,'  etc.  These  arc  the  only  provisions  alluding  to  slavery.  Thus  the  thing  is 
hid  away  in  the  Constitution,  just  as  an  afflicted  man  hides  away  a  wen  or  cancer, 
which  he  dares  not  cut  out  at  once,  lest  he  bleed  to  death,  with  the  promise,  never- 


58  PATRIOTISM   OF  ILLINOIS. 

theless,  that  the  cutting  may  begin  at  the  end  of  a  certain  time.  Less  than  this  our 
fathers  could  not  do,  and  more  they  would  not  do.  Necessity  drove  them  so  far, 
and  further  they  would  not  go.  But  this  is  not  all.  The  earliest  Congress  under  the 
Constitution  took  the  same  view  of  slavery.  They  hedged  and  hemmed  it  in  to  the 
narrowest  limits  of  necessity. 

"In  1794,  they  prohibited  an  outgoing  slave-trade — that  is,  the  taking  of  slaves 
from  the  United  States  to  sell. 

"In  1798,  they  prohibited  the  bringing  of  slaves  from  Africa  into  the  Mississippi 
Territory — this  Territory  then  comprising  what  are  now  the  States  of  Mississippi  and 
Alabama.  This  was  ten  years  before  they  had  the  authority  to  do  the  same  thing 
as  to  the  States  existing  at  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution. 

"In  1800,  they  prohibited  American  citizens  from  trading  in  slaves  between  for 
eign  countries,  as,  for  instance,  from  Africa  to  Brazil. 

"In  1803,  they  passed  a  law  in  aid  of  one  or  two  Slave  State  laws,  in  restraint 
of  the  internal  slave-trade. 

"In  1807,  in  apparent  hot  haste,  they  passed  the  law,  nearly  a  year  in  advance, 
to  take  effect  the  first  day  of  1808 — the  very  first  day  the  Constitution  would  per 
mit — prohibiting  the  African  slave-trade  by  heavy  pecuniary  and  corporeal  penalties. 

"In  1820,  finding  these  provisions  ineffectual,  they  declared  the  slave-trade  piracy, 
and  annexed  to  it  the  extreme  penalty  of  death.  While  all  this  was  passing  in  the 
General  government,  five  or  six  of  the  original  Slave  States  had  adopted  systems  of 
gradual  emancipation,  by  which  the  institution  was  rapidly  becoming  extinct  within 
these  limits. 

"Thus  we  see  the  plain,  unmistakable  spirit  of  that  age,  toward  slavery,  was  hostil 
ity  to  the  principle,  and  toleration  only  by  necessity. 

"But  now  it  is  to  be  transformed  into  a  "sacred  right."  Nebraska  brings  it  forth, 
places  it  on  the  high  road  to  extension  and  perpetuity,  and,  with  a  pat  on  the  back, 
says  to  it,  '  Go,  God  speed  you.'  Henceforth,  it  is  to  be  the  chief  jewel  of  the  na 
tion — the  very  figure-head  of  the  ship  of  state.  Little  by  little,  but  steadily  as  man's 
march  to  the  grave,  we  have  been  giving  up  the  old  for  the  new  faith.  Near  eighty 
years  ago  we  began  by  declaring  that  all  men  are  created  equal,  but  now,  from  that 
beginning,  we  have  run  down  to  the  other  declaration,  that  for  some  men  to  enslave 
others  is  a  'sacred  right  of  self-government.'  These  principles  cannot  stand  togeth 
er.  They  are  as  opposite  as  God  and  mammon,  and  whoever  holds  to  the  one  must 
despise  the  other.  When  Pettit,  in  connection  with  his  support  of  the  Nebraska 
bill,  called  the  Declaration  of  Independence  a  '  self-evident  lie,'  he  only  did  what 
consistency  and  candor  require  all  other  Nebraska  men  to  do.  Of  the  forty  odd 
Nebraska  Senators  who  sat  present  and  heard  him,  no  one  rebuked  him.  Nor  am  I 
apprised  that  any  Nebraska  newspaper,  or  any  Nebraska  orator,  in  the  whole 
nation  has  ever  yet  rebuked  him.  If  this  had  been  said  among  Marion's  men,  South 
erners  though  they  were,  what  would  have  become  of  the  man  who  said  it  ?  If  this 
had  been  said  to  the  men  who  captured  Andre,  the  man  who  said  it  would  probably 
have  been  hung  sooner  than  Andre  was.  If  it  had  been  said  in  old  Independence 


GO   BACK   TO    OLD    PRINCIPLES.  59 

Hall,  seventy-eight  years  ago,  the  very  door-keeper  would  have  throttled  the  man, 
and  thrust  him  into  the  street. 

44  Let  no  one  be  deceived ;  the  spirit  of  seventy-six  and  the  spirit  of  Nebraska  are 
utter  antagonisms,  and  the  former  is  being  rapidly  displaced  by  the  latter. 

44  Fellow-countrymen  !  Americans — South  as  well  as  North — shall  we  make  no 
effort  to  arrest  this  ?  Already  the  liberal  party  throughout  the  world  express  the 
apprehension  'that  the  one  retrograde  institution  in  America  is  undermining  the 
principles  of  progress,  and  fatally  violating  the  noblest  political  system  the  world 
ever  saw.'  This  is  not  the  taunt  of  enemies,  but  the  warning  of  friends.  Is  it 
quite  safe  to  disregard  it — to  despise  it  ?  Is  there  no  danger  to  liberty  itself,  in  dis 
carding  the  earliest  practice  and  first  precept  of  our  ancient  faith?  In  cur  greedy 
cJiase  to  make  profit  of  the  negro,  let  us  beware  lest  we  4  caned  and  tear  in  pieces'  even  the 
white  man's  charter  of  freedom. 

44  Our  republican  robe  is  soiled  and  trailed  in  the  dust.  Let  us  repurify  it.  Let  ua 
turn  and  wash  it  white,  in  the  spirit,  if  not  in  the  blood,  of  the  Revolution.  Let  ua 
turn  slavery  from  its  claims  of  '  moral  right'  back  upon  its  existing  legal  rights,  and 
its  arguments  of  4 necessity.'  Let  us  return  it  to  the  position  our  fathers  gave  it, 
and  there  let  it  rest  in  peace.  Let  us  readopt  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and, 
with  it,  the  practices  and  policy  which  harmonize  with  it.  Let  North  and  South — 
let  all  Americans — let  all  lovers  of  liberty  everywhere — join  in  the  great  and  good 
work.  If  we  do  this,  we  shall  not  only  have  saved  the  Union,  but  we  shall  have 
so  saved  it  as  to  make,  and  to  keep  it,  forever  worthy  of  the  saving.  We  shall 
have  so  saved  it,  that  the  succeeding  millions  of  free,  happy  people,  the  world 
over,  shall  rise  up  and  call  us  blessed,  to  the  latest  generations." 

He  then  saw,  with  eagle  eye  and  prophetic  foresight,  the  beginning 
of  the  end.  The  State  voted  anti-Nebraska,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  was 
the  prominent  man  for  the  seat  in  the  national  Senate  to  be  vacated 
by  General  Shields,  and  was  voted  for  on  several  ballots,  but  fearing 
division  might  result  in  the  election  of  some  man  of  doubtful  policy 
he  used  his  influence  to  harmonize  his  friends  in  the  support  of 
Lyman  Trumbull,  who  was  elected.  Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  training 
for  a  higher  post,  though  he  knew  it  not. 

In  a  former  chapter  there  has  been  mention  made  of  the  great 
contest  of  1858  between  himself  and  Mr.  Douglas — "the  battle  of 
the  giants."  It  is  only  adverted  to  here  to  complete  the  links  of 
the  historic  chain,  and  for  the  purpose  of  quoting  from  his  Springfield 
speech  of  June  17,  1858,  the  sentences  so  often  quoted  by  friends 
and  foes: 

44  A  house  divided  against  itself  cannot  stand.  I  believe  this  government  cannot 
endure  permanently  half  slave  and  half  free.  I  do  not  expect  the  Union  to  be 


60  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

dissolved,  I  do  not  expect  the  house  to  fall,  but  I  do  expect  it  will  cease  to  be  divided. 
It  will  become  all  one  thing  or  all  the  other." 

The  result  of  the  contest  has  been  noticed.  Mr.  Lincoln  did  not 
enter  the  Senate.  Providence  hath  its  own  hour  and  its  own  way 
of  raising  up  the  leaders  for  great  crises,  and  one  of  these  was  upon 
the  country.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  grown  up  among  the  people  and  not 
in  a  political  hot-bed.  He  had  a  native,  vigorous  logic,  not  inaptly 
symbolled  by  his  physique.  He  was  one  of  the  people.  He  came 
not  from  titled  or  moneyed  aristocracy,  but  was  of  the  hard-handed 
nobility  of  toil.  He  knew  at  once  the  dignity  and  the  value  of  a 
freeman's  labor,  and  God  raised  up  this  man,  this  vigorous,  cool- 
brained,  warm-hearted,  strong-handed  laborer,  to  be  the  leader  of 
free  men  in  the  battle  between  freedom  and  slavery.  On  that  rugged 
homely  face  was  written  an  honest  character.  In  him  was  a  sim 
plicity  which  more  than  matched  the  subtilty  of  his  opponents.  He 
was  written  as  the  Moses  who  should  lead  the  children  of  this  Israel 
through  a  deep  Red  Sea  into  the  promised  land  of  freedom. 

THE  NOMINATION. 

The  Republican  National  Convention  of  1860  met  in  Chicago  on 
the  16th  of  May.  A  huge  building,  called  "the  wigwam,"  had  been 
erected  by  the  citizens  for  the  occasion.  The  names  of  Gov.  Chase, 
Mr.  Bates,  and  Mr.  Cameron  had  been  pressed,  but  it  was  evident 
from  the  first  hour  that  the  contest  was  between  W.  II.  Seward,  of 
New  York,  and  Abraham  Lincoln,  of  Illinois. 

The  one  had  spoken  of  the  "  irresistible  conflict,"  the  other  of  the 
"divided  house."  Their  names  now  connected  were  to  be  written 
together  in  succeeding  chapters  of  pregnant  history.  These  men 
were  to  stand  shoulder  to  shoulder  through  the  most  momentous 
struggle  of  the  world's  annals.  On  the  third  ballot  Mr.  Lincoln 
received  354  votes  and  was  nominated.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Evarts, 
of  New  York,  the  nomination  was  made  unanimous.  The  contest 
came  and  Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected  President  of  the  United 
States. 

FOR  WASHINGTON. 

On  the  llth  of  February  the  President  elect  left  his  Illinois  home 
for  Washington,  there  to  meet  such  difficulties  as  had  never  con- 


FAREWELL  TO   HIS  NEIGHBORS.  (31 

fronted  a  Chief  Magistrate.  An  organized  conspiracy,  ripened  into 
an  extensive  secession,  sought  to  prevent  him  in  the  exercise  of  the 
functions  of  the  high  office  to  which  he  had  been  chosen  as  President 
of  the  whole  country.  War  rolled  up  in  the  near  future,  and  how 
long,  how  terrible,  and  with  what  results  none  could  prophesy  with 
surety.  At  the  Springfield  depot  he  thus  bade  farewell  to  his 
neighbors : 

"  MY  FRIENDS:— -No  one  not  in  my  position  can  appreciate  the  sadness  I  feel  at  this 
parting.  To  this  people  I  owe  all  that  I  am.  Here  I  have  lived  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century;  here  my  children  were  born,  and  here  one  of  them  lies  buried.  I 
know  not  how  soon  I  shall  see  you  again.  A  duty  devolves  upon  me  which  is, 
perhaps,  greater  than  that  which  has  devolved  upon  any  other  man  since  the 
days  of  WASHINGTON.  He  never  would  have  succeeded  except  for  the  aid  of  Divine 
Providence,  upon  which  he  at  all  times  relied.  I  feel  that  I  cannot  succeed  without 
the  same  Divine  aid  which  sustained  him;  on  the  same  Almighty  Being  I  place  my 
reliance  for  support,  and  I  hope  you,  my  friends,  will  all  pray  that  I  may  receive  that 
Divine  assistance,  without  which  I  cannot  succeed,  but  with  which  success  is  certain* 
Again,  I  bid  you  all  an  affectionate  farewell." 

These  few,  simple  words  thrilled  the  country  through.  The  rec 
ognition  of  Divine  aid  made  so  honestly,  and  his  desire  to  be  remem 
bered  in  the  prayers  of  the  people  so  expressive  of  a  childlike  faith 
in  God,  at  once  won  the  Christian  sympathy  of  the  land. 

From  Springfield  to  Baltimore  Was  one  long  ovation.  Crowds 
gathered  at  the  stations  and  greeted  him  warmly.  He  was  cautious 
and  guarded  in  his  expressions,  as  the  declaration  of  a  policy  upon 
his  part  would  have  been  premature  and  might  have  been  injurious. 
Yet  the  policy  was  foreshadowed  in  his  remarks  to  the  members  of 
the  Indiana  Legislature,  who  called  upon  him  at  the  Bates  House,  in 
Indianapolis,  on  the  evening  of  the  llth: 

"FELLOW-CITIZENS  OF  THE  STATE  OF  INDIANA: — I  am  here  to  thank  you  much  for 
this  magnificent  welcome,  and  still  more  for  the  generous  support  given  by  your  State 
to  that  political  cause  which  I  think  is  the  true  and  just  cause  of  the  whole  country 
and  the  whole  world. 

"  Solomon  says  there  is  '  a  time  to  keep  silence,'  and  when  men  wrangle  by  the 
mouth  with  no  certainty  that  they  mean  the  same  thing  while  they  use  the  same  word, 
•  it,  perhaps,  were  as  well  if  they  would  keep  silence. 

"  The  words  '  coercion*  and  '  invasion'  are  much  used  in  these  days,  and  often  with 
some  temper  and  hot  blood.  Let  us  make  sure,  if  we  can,  that  we  do  not  misunder 
stand  the  meaning  of  those  who  use  them.  Let  us  get  exact  definitions  of  these 


02  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

words — not  from  dictionaries,  but  from  the  men  themselves,  who  certainly  deprecate 
the  things  they  would  represent  by  the  use  of  words.  What,  then,  is  *  coercion  ?* 
What  is  '  invasion  ?'  Would  the  marching  of  an  army  into  South  Carolina,  without 
the  consent  of  her  people,  and  with  hostile  intent  toward  them,  be  '  invasion  ?'  1 
certainly  think  it  would,  and  it  would  be  '  coercion,'  also,  if  the  South  Carolinians  were 
forced  to  submit.  But  if  the  United  States  should  merely  hold  and  retake  its  own 
forts  and  other  property,  and  collect  the  duties  on  foreign  importations,  or  even 
withhold  the  mails  from  places  where  they  were  habitually  violated,  would  any  or 
all  these  things  be  '  invasion'  or  '  coercion  ?'  Do  our  professed  lovers  of  the  Union, 
but  who  spitefully  resolve  that  they  will  resist  coercion  and  invasion,  understand 
that  such  things  as  these  on  the  part  of  ttte  United  Sates,  would  be  coercion  or  inva 
sion  of  a  State  ?  If  so,  their  idea  of  means  to  preserve  the  object  of  their  affections 
would  seem  exceedingly  thin  and  airy.  If  sick,  the  little  pills  of  the  homeopath ist 
would  be  much  too  large  for  it  to  swallow.  In  their  view,  the  Union,  as  a  family 
relation,  would  seem  to  be  no  regular  marriage,  but  a  sort  of  '  free  love  '  arrange* 
ment,  to  be  maintained  only  on  'passional  attraction.' 

"  By  the  way,  in  what  consists  the  special  sacredness  of  a  State  ?  I  speak  not  of 
the  position  assigned  to  a  State  in  the  Union,  by  the  Constitution  ;  for  that,  by  the 
bond,  we  all  recognize.  That  position,  however,  a  State  cannot 'carry  out  of  the 
Union  with  it.  I  speak  of  that  assumed  primary  right  of  a  State  to  rule  all  which 
is  less  than  itself  and  ruin  all  which  is  larger  than  itself.  If  a  State  and  a  county, 
in  a  given  case,  should  be  equal  in  extent  of  territory,  and  equal  in  number  of 
inhabitants,  in  what,  as  a  matter  of  principle,  is  the  State  better  than  the  county  ? 
Would  an  exchange  of  names  be  an  exchange  of  rights  upon  principle  ?  On  what 
rightful  principle  may  a  State,  being  not  more  than  one  fiftieth  part  of  the  nation,  in 
soil  and  population,  break  up  the  nation  and  then  coerce  a  proportionally  larger 
subdivision  of  itself,  in  the  most  arbitrary  way  ?  What  mysterious  right  to  play 
tyrant  is  conferred  on  a  district  of  country,  with  its  people,  by  merely  calling  it  a 
State  ? 

Fellow-citizens,  I  am  not  asserting  any  thing ;  I  am  merely  asking  questions  for 
you  to  consider.  And  now  allow  me  to  bid  you  farewell. 

Again,  he  thus  spoke  in  Cincinnati  on  the  12th: 

"MR.  MAYOR  AND  FKLLOW-CITIZENS : — I  have  spoken  but  once  before  this  in  Cincin 
nati.  That  was  a  year  previous  to  the  late  Presidential  election.  On  that  occasion, 
in  a  playful  manner,  but  with  sincere  words,  I  addressed  much  of  what  I  said  to  the 
Kentuckians.  I  gave  my  opinion  that  we,  as  Republicans,  would  ultimately  beat 
them,  as  Democrats,  but  that  they  could  postpone  that  result  longer  by  nominating 
Senator  Douglas  for  the  Presidency  than  they  could  in  any  other  way.  They  did 
not,  in  any  true  sense  of  the  word,  nominate  Mr.  Douglas,  and  the  result  has  come 
certainly  as  soon  as  ever  I  expected.  I  also  told  them  how  I  expected  they  would 
be  treated  after  they  should  have  been  beaten ;  and  I  now  wish  to  call  their  atten* 
tion  to  what  I  then  said  upon  that  subject.  I  then  said,  '  When  we  do  as  we  say, 
beat  you,  you  perhaps  want  to  know  what  we  will  do  with  you*  I  will  tell  you,  as 


EEPJ.Y   TO   MAYOR   WOOD.  03 

far  as  I  am  authorized  to  speak  for  the  opposition,  what  we  mean  to  do  with  you. 
We  mean  to  treat  you,  as  near  as  we  possibly  can,  as  Washington,  Jefferson,  and 
Madison  treated  you.  We  mean  to  leave  you  alone,  and  in  no  way  to  interfere  with 
your  institutions ;  to  abide  by  all  and  every  compromise  of  the  Constitution  ;  and,  in 
a  word,  coming  back  to  the  original  proposition,  to  treat  you  so  far  as  degenerate 
men,  if  we  have  degenerated,  may,  according  to  the  example  of  those  noble  fathers, 
WASHINGTON,  JKFFERSON,  and  MADISON.  We  mean  to  remember  that  you  are  as  good 
as  we  ;  that  there  is  no  difference  between  us,  other  than  the  difference  of  circum 
stances.  We  mean  to  recognize  and  bear  in  mind  always  that  you  have  as  good 
hearts  in  your  bosoms  as  other  people,  or  as  we  claim  to  have,  and  treat  you 
accordingly.' 

"Fellow-citizens  of  Kentucky!  friends!  brethren,  may  I  call  you  in  my  new 
position  ?  I  see  no  occasion,  and  feel  no  inclination  to  retract  a  word  of  this.  If 
it  shall  not  be  made  good,  be  assured  the  fault  shall  not  be  mine." 

Passing  several  short  speeches  we  quote  his  remarks  in  New  York 
in  response  to  the  reception  by  Mayor  Wood: 

"Ma.  MAYOR: — It  is  with  feelings  of  deep  gratitude  that  I  make  my  acknowledg* 
ments  for  the  reception  that  has  been  given  me  in  the  great  commercial  city  of  New 
York.  I  cannot  but  remember  that  it  is  done  by  the  people,  who  do  not,  by  a  large 
majority,  agree  with  me  in  political  sentiment.  It  is  the  more  grateful  to  me, 
because  in  this  I  see  that  for  the  great  principles  of  our  Government  the  people  are 
pretty  nearly  or  quite  unanimous.  In  regard  to  the  difficulties  that  confront  us  at 
this  time,  and  of  which  you  have  seen  fit  to  speak  so  becomingly  and  so  justly,  I  can 
only  say  that  I  agree  with  the  sentiments  expressed.  In  my  devotion  to  the  Union 
I  hope  I  am  behind  no  man  in  the  nation.  As  to  my  wisdom  in  conducting  affairs  so 
as  to  tend  to  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  I  fear  too  great  confidence  may  have 
been  placed  in  me.  I  am  sure  I  bring  a  heart  devoted  to  the  work.  There  is  noth 
ing  that  could  ever  bring  me  to  consent — willingly  to  consent — to  the  destruction  of 
this  Union  (in  which  not  only  the  great  city  of  New  York,  but  the  whole  country, 
has  acquired  its  greatness),  unless  it  would  be  that  thing  for  which  the  Union  itself 
\ras  made.  I  understand  that  the  ship  is  made  for  the  carrying  and  preservation  of 
the  cargo ;  and  so  long  as  the  ship  is  safe  with  the  cargo,  it  shall  not  be  abandoned. 
This  Union  shall  never  be  abandoned,  unless  the  possibility  of  its  existence  shall 
cease  to  exist,  without  the  necessity  of  throwing  passengers  and  cargo  overboard. 
So  long,  then,  as  it  is  possible  that  the  prosperity  and  liberties  of  this  people  can  be 
preserved  within  this  Union,  it  shall  be  my  purpose  at  all  times  to  preserve  it.  And 
now,  Mr.  Mayor,  renewing  my  thanks  for  this  cordial  reception,  allow  me  to  come  to 
a  close.  [Applause.]" 

At  Trenton,  after  briefly  addressing  the  Senate,  he  repaired  to  the 
Assembly  Chamber,  where,  in  reply  to  the  Speaker,  he  said : 

"Ma.  SPEAKER  AND  GENTLEMEN: — I  have  just  enjoyed  the  honor  of  a  reception  by 
the  other  branch  of  this  Legislature,  and  I  return  to  you  and  them  my  thanks  for 


04  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

the  reception  which  the  people  of  New  Jersey  have  given  through  their  chosen1 
representatives  to  me  as  the  representative,  for  the  time  being,  of  the  majesty  of 
the  United  States.  I  appropriate  to  myself  very  little  of  the  demonstrations  of 
respect  with  which  I  have  been  greeted.  I  think  little  should  be  given  to  any  man, 
but  that  it  should  be  a  manifestation  of  adherence  to  the  Union  and  the  Constitu^ 
tion.  I  understand  myself  to  be  received  by  the  representatives  of  the  people 
of  New  Jersey,  a  majority  of  whom  differ  in  opinion  from  those  with  whom  I  have 
acted.  This  manifestation  is,  therefore,  to  be  regarded  by  me  as  expressing  their 
devotion  to  the  Union,  the  Constitution,  and  the  liberties  of  the  people.  You,  Mr* 
Speaker,  have  well  said  that  this  is  a  time  when  the  bravest  and  wisest  look  with 
doubt  and  awe  upon  the  aspect  presented  by  our  national  aifairs.  Under  these  cir 
cumstances,  you  will  readily  see  why  I  should  not  speak  in  detail  of  the  course  I 
shall  deem  it  best  to  pursue.  It  is  proper  that  I  should  avail  myself  of  all  the  infor 
mation  and  all  the  time  at  my  command,  in  order  that  when  the  time  arrives  in 
which  I  must  speak  officially,  I  shall  be  able  to  take  the  ground  which  I  deem  the  best 
and  safest,  and  from  which  I  may  have  no  occasion  to  swerve.  I  shall  endeavor  to 
take  the  ground  I  deem  most  just  to  the  North,  the  East,  the  West,  the  South,  and 
the  whole  country.  I  take  it,  I  hope,  in  good  temper,  certainly  with  no  malice 
towards  any  section.  I  shall  do  all  that  may  be  in  my  power  to  pi-omote  a  peaceful 
settlement  of  all  our  difficulties.  The  man  does  not  live  who  is  more  devoted  to 
peace  than  I  am.  [Cheers.]  None  who  would  do  more  to  preserve  it,  but  it  may 
be  necessary  to  put  the  foot  down  firmly.  [Here  the  audience  broke  out  into  cheers 
so  loud  and  long,  that  for  some  moments  it  was  impossible  to  hear  Mr.  LINCOLN'S 
voice.]  And  if  I  do  my  duty  and  do  right  you  will  sustain  me,  will  you  not  ?  [Loud 
cheers,  and  cries  of  'Yes,  yes,  we  will.']  Received,  as  I  am,  by  the  members  of  a 
Legislature,  the  majority  of  whom  do  not  agree  with  me  in  political  sentiments,  I 
trust  that  I  may  have  their  assistance  in  piloting  the  ship  of  State  through  this 
voyage,  surrounded  by  perils  as  it  is,  for  if  it  should  suffer  wreck  now,  there  will  be 
no  pilot  ever  needed  for  another  voyage.  Gentlemen,  I  have  already  spoken  longer 
than  I  intended,  and  must  beg  leave  to  stop  here." 

The  party  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  and  the  President-elect,  pro 
ceeding  immediately  to  the  Continental  Hotel,  was  welcomed  in  a 
brief  speech  from  Mayor  Henry,  to  which  he  replied  as  follows  : 

"  MR.  MAYOR  AND  FELLOW-CITIZENS  OF  PHILADELPHIA: — I  appear  before  you  to 
make  no  lengthy  speech,  but  to  thank  you  for  this  reception.  The  reception  you 
have  given  me  to-night  is  not  to  me,  the  man,  the  individual,  but  to  the  man  who 
temporarily  represents,  or  should  represent,  the  majesty  of  the  nation.  [Cheers.] 
It  is  true,  as  your  worthy  Mayor  has  said,  that  there  is  anxiety  amongst  the  citi/ens 
of  the  United  States  at  this  time.  1  deem  it  a  happy  circumstance  that  this  dissat 
isfied  position  of  our  fellow-citizens  does  not  point  us  to  any  thing  in  which  they  are 
being  injured,  or  about  to  be  injured,  for  which  reason  I  have  felt  all  the  while  jus 
tified  in  concluding  that  the  crisis,  the  panic,  the  anxiety  of  the  country  at  this  time, 


N  miDELPiiiA.  65 


is  artificial.  If  there  be  those  who  differ  with  me  upon  this  subject,  they  have  not 
pointed  out  the  substantial  difficulty  that  exists.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that'an  arti 
ficial  panic  may  not  do  considerable  harm:  that  it  has  done  such  I  do  not  deny. 
The  hope  that  has  been  expressed  by  your  Mayor,  that.  I  may  be  able  to  restore 
peace,  harmony,  and  prosperity  to  the  country,  is  most  worthy  of  him  ;  and  happy, 
indeed,  will  I  be  if  I  shall  be  able  to  verify  and  fulfill  that  hope.  [Tremendous 
•cheering.]  I  promise  you,  in  all  sincerity,  that  I  bring  to  the  work  a  sincere  heart. 
Whether  I  will  bring  a  head  equal  to  that  heart  will  be  for  future  times  to  deter- 
mine.  It  were  useless  for  me  to  speak  of  details  of  plans  now  ;  I  shall  speak  offic 
ially  next  Monday  week,  if  ever.  If  I  should  not  speak  then  it  were  useless  for  me 
to  do  so  now.  If  I  do  speak  then  it  is  useless  for  me  to  do  so  now.  When  I  do 
speak  I  shall  take  such  ground  as  I  deem  best  calculated  to  restore  peace,  harmony, 
iind  prosperity  to  the  country^  and  tend  to  the  perpetuity  of  the  nation  and  the 
liberty  of  these  States  and  these  people.  Your  worthy  Mayor  has  expressed  the 
wish,  in  which  I  join  with  him,  that  it  were  convenient  for  me  to  remain  in  your 
city  long  enough  to  consult  your  merchants  and  manufacturers  ;  or,  as  it  were,  to 
listen  to  those  breathings  rising  within  the  consecrated  walls  wherein  the  Constitu 
tion  of  the  United  States,  and  I  will  add-,  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  were 
originally  framed  and  adopted.  [Enthusiastic  applause.]  I  assure  you  and  your 
Mayor  that  I  had  hoped  on  this  occasion,  and  upon  all  occasions  during  my  life,  that 
t  shall  do  nothing  inconsistent  with  the  teachings  of  these  holy  and  most  sacred 
walls.  I  never  asked  any  thing  that  does  not  breathe  from,  those  walls.  All  my 
political  warfare  has  been  in  favor  of  the  teachings  that  came  forth  from  these 
sacred  walls.  May  my  right  hand  forget  its  cunning,  and  my  tongue  cleave  to  the 
roof  of  my  mouth,  if  ever  I  prove  false  to  those  teachings.  Fellow-citizens,  I  have 
addressed  you  longer  than  I  expected  to  do,  and  now  allow  me  to  \  id  you  good  night." 

These  brief  addresses  indicated  his  strong  desire  to  avoid  blood 
shed,  to  restore  peace  and  quietness  but  at  the  same  time  to  main 
tain  the  unity  of  the  States  at  every  cost.  Disappointing  the 
schemes  of  conspirators  he  reached  Washington  on  Saturday  morn 
ing  of  Feb.  23d,  in  advance  of  all  expectation,  and  of  hospitable  pre 
parations  for  his  reception.  Threats  had  been  made  of  a  forcible  pre 
vention  of  the  inauguration,  but  the  thorough  preparations  of  Lieut.  - 
Gen.  Scott  prevented  any  outbreak  and  secured  the  utmost  quiet. 

The  ceremony  of  inauguration  took  place  as  usual  in  front  of  the 
Capitol,  and  in  the  presence  of  a  vast  number  of  witnesses.  Before 
taking  the  oath,  Mr.  Lincoln,  in  a  clear  ringing  voice  delivered  hia 
inaugural  address,  to  hear  which  there  was  intense  solicitude  ;  to 
read  which  the  nation  and  the  world  waited.  The  intimate  relation 
of  the  President  to  Illinois  warrants  the  reproduction  of  the  entire 

address. 

i 


66  PATRIOTISM   OB.  ILLINOIS. 

INAUGURAL  ADDRESS. 

"Fdloio-citizens  of  the  Untied  States  : 

"  In  compliance  with  a  custom  as  old  as  the  government  itself,  I  appear  before  yoii 
to  address  you  briefly,  and  to  take  in  your  presence  the  oath  prescribed  by  the  Con 
stitution  of  the  United  States  to  be  taken  by  the  President  '  before  he  enters  on 
the  execution  of  his  office.' 

"  I  do  not  consider  it  necessary  at  present  for  me  to  discuss  those  matters  of  ad 
ministration  about  which  there  is  no  special  anxiety  or  excitement. 

"Apprehension  seems  to  exist  among  the  people  of  the  Southern  States  that  by 
the  accession  of  a  Republican  Administration  their  property  and  their  peace  and 
personal  security  are  to  be  endangered.  There  has  never  been  any  reasonable  cause 
for  such  apprehension.  Indeed,  the  most  ample  evidence  to  the  contrary  has  all  the 
while  existed  and  been  open  to  their  inspection.  It  is  found  in  nearly  all  the  pub 
lished  speeches  of  him  who  now  addresses  you.  I  do  but  quote  from  one  of  those 
speeches  when  I  declare  that  'I  have  no  purpose,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  interfere 
with  the  institution  of  slavery  in  the  States  where  it  exists.  I  believe  I  have  no 
lawful  right  to  do  so,  and  I  have  no  inclination  to  do  so."  Those  who  nominated 
and  elected  me  did  so  with  full  knowledge  that  I  had  made  this  and  many  similar 
declarations,  and  had  never  recanted  them.  And  more  than  this,  they  placed  m 
the  platform  for  my  acceptance,  and  as  a  law  to  themselves  and  to  me,  the  clear 
and  emphatic  resolution  which  I  now  read: 

" '  Resobed,  That  the  maintenance  inviolate  of  the  rights  of  the  States,  and  especially 
the  right  of  each  State,  to  order  and  control  its  own  domestic  institutions  according 
to  its  own  judgment  exclusively,  is  essential  to  the  balance  of  power  on  which  the 
perfection  and  endurance  of  our  political  fabric  depend,  and  we  denounce  the  law 
less  invasion  by  armed  force  of  the  soil  of  any  state  or  territory,  no  matter  under 
what  pretext,  as  among  the  gravest  of  crimes/ 

"  I  now  reiterate  these  sentiments;  and,  in  doing  so,  I  only  press  upon  the  public 
attention  the  most  conclusive  evidence  of  which  the  case  is  susceptible,  that  the 
property,  peace,  and  security  of  no  section  are  to  be  in  any  wise  endangered  by  the 
now  incoming  Administration.  I  add,  too,  that  all  the  protection  which,  con 
sistently  with  the  Constitution  and  laws,  can  be  given,  will  be  cheerfully  given  to 
all  the  States,  when  lawfully  demanded,  for  whatever  cause — as  cheerfully  to  one 
section  as  to  another. 

"  There  is  much  controversy  about  the  delivering  up  of  fugitives  from  service  or 
labor.  The  clause  I  now  read  is  as  plainly  written  in  the  Constitution  as  any  other 
of  its  provisions : 

" '  No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  state,  under  the  laws  thereof,  escaping 
into  another,  bhall,  in  consequence  of  any  law  or  regulation  therein,  be  discharged 
from  such  service  or  labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  claim  of  the  party  to  whom 
such  service  or  labor  may  be  due.' 

"It  is  scarcely  questioned  that  this  provision  was  intended  by  those  who  made  it 
for  the  reclaiming  of  what  we  call  fugitive  slaves;  and  the  intention  of  the  lawgiver 


JNAUGURAL   ADDRE&S.  07 

is  the  law.  All  members  of  Congress  swear  their  support  to  the  whole  Constitu 
tion — to  this  provision  as  much  as  any  other.  To  the  proposition,  then,  that  slaves, 
whose  cases  come,  within  the  terms  of  this  clause,  '  shall  be  delivered  up,'  then- 
oaths  are  unanimous.  Now,  if  they  would  make  the  effort  in  good  temper,  could 
they  not,  with  nearly  equal  unanimity,  frame  and  pass  a  law  by  means  of  which  to 
keep  good  that  unanimous  oath  ? 

"There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  whether  this  law  clause  should  be  enforced  by 
national  or  by  slate  authority;  but  surely  that  difference  is  not  a  very  material  one. 
If  the  slave  is  to  be  surrendered,  it  can  be  of  but  little  consequence  to  him,  or  to 
others,  by  which  authority  it  is  done.  And  should  any  one,  in  any  case,  be  content 
that  his  oath  shall  go  unkept,  on  a  mere  unsubstantial  controversy  as  to  how  it  shall 
be  kept  ? 

"  Again,  in  any  law  upon  this  subject,  ought  not  all  the  safeguards  of  liberty  known 
in  civilized  and  humane  jurisprudence  to  be  introduced,  so  that  a  free  man  be  not, 
in  any  case,  surrendered  as  a  slave  ?  And  might  it  not  be  well,  at  the  same  time,  to 
provide  by  law  for  the  enforcement  of  that  clause  in  the  Constitution  which  guar 
antees  that  'the  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges  and  immu 
nities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States  ?' 

"I  take  the  official  oath  to-day  with  no  mental  reservations,  and  with  no  purpose  to 
construe  the  Constitution  or  laws  by  any  hypercritical  rules.  And  while  I  do  not 
choose  now  to  specify  particular  acts  of  Congress  as  proper  to  be  enforced,  I  do 
suggest  that  it  will  be  much  safer  for  all,  both  in  official  and  private  stations,  to 
conform  to  and  abide  by  all  those  acts  which  stand  unrepealed,  than  to  violate  any 
•of  them,  trusting  to  find  impunity  in  having  them  held  to  be  unconstitutional. 

"It  is  seventy-two  years  since  the  first  inauguration  of  a  President  under  our  na 
tional  Constitution.  During  that  period,  fifteen  different  and  greatly  distinguished 
citizens  have,  in  succession,  administered  the  Executive  branch  of  the  government. 
They  have  conducted  it  through  many  perils,  and  generally  with  great  success.  Yet, 
with  all  this  scope  for  precedent,  I  now  enter  upon  the  same  task  for  the  brief  con 
stitutional  term  of  four  years,  under  great  and  peculiar  difficulty.  A  disruption  of 
the  Federal  Union,  heretofore  only  menaced,  is  now  formidably  attempted. 

"I  hold,  that,  in  contemplation  of  universal  law,  and  of  the  Constitution,  the  Union 
of  tJiese  States  is  perpetual.  Perpetuity  is  implied,  if  not  expressed,  in  the  fundamen 
tal  law  of  all  national  governments.  It  is  safe  to  assert  that  no  government  proper 
«ver  had  a  provision  in  its  organic  law  for  its  own  termination.  Continue  to  exe 
cute  all  the  express  provisions  of  our  national  Constitution,  and  the  Union  will  en 
dure  forever— it  being  impossible  to  destroy  it,  except  by  some  action  not  provided 
for  in  the  instrument  itself. 

"Again,  if  the  United  States  be  not  a  government  proper,  but  an  association  of 
States  in  the  nature  of  contract  merely,  can  it,  as  a  contract,  be  peaceably  unmade 
by  less  than  all  the  parties  who  made  it  ?  One  party  to  a  contract  may  violate  it — 
break  it,  so  to  speak ;  but  does  it  not  require  all  to  lawfully  rescind  it  ? 

"  Descending  from  these  general  principles,  we  find  the  proposition  that,  in  legal 
•contemplation,  the  Union  is  perpetual,  confirmed  by  the  history  of  the  Union  itself. 


68  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

The  Union  is  much  older  than  the  Constitution.  It  was  formed,  in  fact,  by  the: 
Articles  of  Association  in  1774.  It  was  matured  and  continued  by  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  in  1776.  It  was  further  matured,  and  the  faith  of  all  the  then  Thir 
teen  States  expressly  plighted  and  engaged  that  it  should  be  perpetual,  by  the  Arti 
cles  of  Confederation  in  1778.  And,  finally,  in  1787,  one  of  the  declared  objects  for 
ordaining  and  establishing  the  Constitution  was  'to  form  a  more  perfect  union.' 

"But  if  destruction  of  the  Union,  by  one,  or  by  a  part  only,  of  the  States,  be  law 
fully  possible,  the  Union  is  less  perfect  than  before,  the  Constitution  having  lost  the 
vital  element  of  perpetuity. 

"It  follows,  from  these  views,  that  no  State,  upon  its  own  mere  motion,  can  law 
fully  get  out  of  the  Union;  that  resolves  and  ordinances  to  that  effect  are 
legally  void;  and  that  acts  of  violence  within  any  State  or  States,  against  the  au 
thority  of  the  United  States,  are  insurrectionary  or  revolutionary,  according  to  cir 
cumstances. 

"I,  therefore  consider  that,  in  view  of  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  the  Union 
is  unbroken,  and  to  the  extent  of  my  ability  I  shall  take  care,  as  the  Constitution 
itself  expressly  enjoins  upon  me,  that  the  laws  of  the  Union  be  faithfully  executed 
in  all  the  States.  Doing  this  I  deem  to  be  only  a  simple  duty  on  my  part ;  and  I 
shall  perform  it,  so  far  as  practicable,  unless  my  rightful  masters  the  American  peo 
ple,  shall  withhold  the  requisite  means,  or,  in  some  authoritative  manner,  direct  the 
contrary.  I  trust  this  will  not  be  granted  as  a  menace,  but  only  as  the  declared 
purpose  of  the  Union  that  it  will  constitutionally  defend  and  maintain  itself. 

"In  doing  this  there  need  be  no  bloodshed  or  violence  ;  and  there  shall  be  none, 
unless  it  be  forced  upon  the  national  authority.  The  power  confided  to  me  will  be 
used  to  hold,  occupy,  and  possess  the  property  and  places  belonging  to  tho  govern 
ment,  and  to  collect  the  duties  and  imposts  ;  but  beyond  what  may  be  but  necessary 
for  these  objects,  there  will  be  no  invasion,  no  using  of  force  against  or  among  the 
people  anywhere.  Where  hostility  to  the  United  States,  in  any  interior  locality, 
shall  be  so  great  and  universal  as  to  prevent  competent  resident  citizens  from  hold 
ing  the  Federal  offices,  there  will  be  no  attempt  to  force  obnoxious  strangers  among 
the  people  for  that  object.  While  the  strict  legal  right  may  exist  in  the  govern 
ment  to  enforce  the  exercise  of  these  offices,  the  attempt  to  do  so  would  be  so  irri 
tating,  and  so  nearly  impracticable  withal,  I  deem  it  better  to  forego,  for  the  time, 
the  uses  of  such  offices. 

"  The  mails,  unless  repelled,  will  continue  to  be  furnished  in  all  parts  of  the 
Union.  So  far  as  possible,  the  people  everywhere  shall  have  that  sense  of  perfect 
security  which  is  most  favorable  to  calm  thought  and  reflection.  The  course  here 
indicated  will  be  followed,  unless  current  events  and  experience  shall  show  a  modi 
fication  or  change  to  be  proper,  and  in  every  case  and  exigency  my  best  discretion 
will  be  exercised,  according  to  circumstances  actually  existing,  and  with  a  view  and 
a  hope  of  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  national  troubles,  and  the  restoration  of  frater 
nal  sympathies  and  affections. 

*'  That  there  are  persons  in  one  section  or  another  who  seek  to  destroy  tho  Union 


INAUGURAL   ADDRESS.  69 

at  all  events,  and  are  glad  of  any  pretext  to  do  it,  I  will  neither  affirm  nor 
deny ;  but  if  there  be  such,  I  need  address  no  word  to  them.  To  those,  however, 
who  really  love  the  Union,  may  I  not  speak  ? 

"  Before  entering  upon  so  grave  a  matter  as  the  destruction  of  our  national  fabric, 
with  all  its  benefits,  its  memories,  and  its  hopes,  would  it  not  be  wise  to  ascertain 
precisely  why  we  do  it  ?  Will  you  hazard  so  desperate  a  step  while  there  is  any 
possibility  that  any  portion  of  the  ills  you  fly  from  have  no  real  existence  ?  Will 
you,  while  the  certain  ills  you  fly  to  are  greater  than  all  the  real  ones  you  fly  from 
— will  you  risk  the  commission  of  so  fearful  a  mistake  ? 

"  All  profess  to  be  content  in  the  Union,  if  all  constitutional  rights  can  be  main 
tained.  Is  it  true,  then,  that  any  right,  plainly  written  in  the  Constitution,  has  been 
denied  ?  I  think  not.  Happily  the  human  mind  is  so  constituted  that  no  party  can 
reach  to  the  audacity  of  doing  this.  Think,  if  you  can,  of  a  single  instance  in 
which  a  plainly  written  provision  of  the  Constitution  has  ever  been  denied.  If,  by 
the  mere  force  of  numbers,  a  majority  should  deprive  a  minority  of  any  clearly 
written  constitutional  right,  it  might,  in  a  moral  point  of  view,  justify  revolution — 
certainly  would  if  such  right  were  a  vital  one.  But  such  is  not  our  case.  All  the 
vital  rights  of  minorities  and  of  individuals  are  so  plainly  assured  to  them  by  affirma 
tions  and  negations,  guarantees  and  prohibitions  in  the  Constitution,  that  controversies 
never  arise  concerning  them.  But  no  organic  law  can  ever  be  framed  with  a  provision 
specifically  applicable  to  every  question  which  may  occur  in  practical  administration. 
No  foresight  can  anticipate,  nor  any  document  of  reasonable  length  contain,  express 
provisions  for  all  possible  questions.  Shall  fugitives  from  labor  be  surrendered  by  nar 
tional  or  by  State  authority  ?  The  Constitution  does  not  expressly  say.  May  Congress 
prohibit  slavery  in  the  territories  ?  The  Constitution  does  not  expressly  say.  Must 
Congress  protect  slavery  in  the  territories  ?  The  Constitution  does  not  expressly  say. 

"  From  questions  of  this  class  spring  all  our  constitutional  controversies,  and  we 
divide  upon  them  into  majorities  or  minorities.  If  the  minority  will  not  acquiesce 
the  majority  must,  or  the  government  must  cease.  There  is  no  other  alternative  ; 
for  continuing  the  government  is  acquiescence  on  one  side  or  the  other.  If  a  mi 
nority  in  such  case  will  secede  rather  than  acquiesce,  they  make  a  precedent  which, 
in  turn,  will  divide  and  ruin  them ;  for  a  minority  of  their  own  will  secede  from  them 
whenever  a  majority  refuses  to  be  controlled  by  such  minority.  For  instance,  why  may 
not  any  portion  of  a  n«w  Confederacy,  a  year  or  two  hence,  arbitrarily  secede  again, 
precisely  as  portions  of  the  present  Union  now  claim  to  secede  from  it  ?  All  who 
cherish  disunion  sentiments  are  now  being  educated  to  the  exact  temper  of  doing  this. 

"  Is  there  such  perfect  identity  of  interests  among  the  States  to  compose  a  new 
Union,  as  to  produce  harmony  only,  and  prevent  renewed  secession  ? 

''Plainly,  the  central  idea  of  secession  is  the  essence  of  anarchy.  A  majority  held 
in  restraint  by  constitutional  checks  and  limitations,  and  always  changing  easily 
with  deliberate  changes  of  popular  opinions  and  sentiments,  is  the  only  true  sover 
eign  of  a  free  people.  Whoever  rejects  it,  does,  of  necessity,  fly  to  anarchy  or  to 
despotism.  Unanimity  is  impossible  ;  the  rule  of  a  minority,  as  a  permanent  ar 
rangement,  is  wholly  inadmissible  ;  so  that,  rejecting  the  majority  principle,  anarchy 
<er  despotism  in  some  form  is  all  that  is  left. 


70  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

"I  do  not  forget  the  position  assumed  by  some,  that  constitutional  questions  are1 
to  be  decided  by  the  Supreme  Court ;  nor  do  I  deny  that  such  decisions  must  be 
binding,  in  any  case,  upon  the  parties  to  a  suit  as  to  the  object  of  that  suit,  while  they 
are  also  entitled  to  very  high  respect  and  consideration  in  all  parallel  cases  by  all 
other  departments  of  the  government.  And  while  it  is  obviously  possible  that  such 
decisions  may  be  erroneous  in  any  given  case,  still  the  evil  effect  following  it  being 
limited  to  that  particular  case,  with  the  chance  that  it  may  be  overruled,  and  never 
become  a  precedent  for  other  cases,  can  better  be  borne  than  could  the  evils  of  a 
different  practice.  At  the  same  time  the  candid  citizen  must  confess  that  if  the 
policy  of  the  government  upon  vital  questions  affecting  the  whole  people,  is  to  be 
irrevocably  fixed  by  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court,  the  instant  they  are  made  in 
ordinary  litigation  between  parties  in  personal  actions  the  people  will  have  ceased 
to  be  their  own  rulers,  having  to  that,  extent  practically  resigned  their  government 
into  the  hands  of  that  eminent  tribunal. 

"Nor  is  there  in  this  view  any  assault  upon  the  Court  of  the  Judges.  It  is  a  duty 
from  which  they  may  not  shrink  to  decide  cases  properly  brought  before  them,  and 
it  is  no  fault  of  theirs  if  others  seek  to  turn  their  decisions  to  political  purposes. 
One  section  of  our  country  believes  slavery  is  right,  and  ought  to  be  extended,  while 
the  other  believes  it  is  wrong,  and  ought  not  to  be  extended.  This  is  the  only  sub 
stantial  dispute.  The  fugitive-slave  clause  of  the  Constitution,  and  the  law  for  the 
suppression  of  the  foreign  slave-trade,  are  each  as  well  enforced,  perhaps,  as  any  law 
can  ever  be  in  a  community  where  the  moral  sense  of  the  people  imperfectly  sup 
ports  the  law  itself.  The  great  body  of  the  people  abide  by  the  dry  legal  obligation 
in  both  cases,  and  a  few  break  over  in  each.  This,  I  think,  cannot  be  perfectly 
cured;  and  it  would  be  worse  in  both  cases  after  the  separation  of  the  sections  than 
before.  The  foreign  slave-trade,  now  imperfectly  suppressed,  would  be  ultimately 
revived  without  restriction  in  one  section,  while  fugitive  slaves,  now  only  partially 
surrendered,  would  not  be  surrendered  at  all  by  the  other. 

"  Physically  speaking,  we  cannot  separate.  We  cannot  remove  our  respective 
sections  from  each  other,  nor  build  an  impassable  wall  between  them.  A  husband 
and  wife  may  be  divorced,  and  go  out  of  the  presence  and  beyond  the  reach  of  each 
other,  but  the  different  parts  of  our  country  cannot  do  this.  They  cannot  but  re 
main  face  to  face  ;  and  intercourse,  either  amicable  or  hostile,  must  continue  be 
tween  them.  Is  it  impossible,  then,  to  make  that  intercourse  more  advantageous  or 
more  satisfactory  after  separation  than  before  ?  Can  aliens  make  treaties  easier  than 
friends  can  make  laws  ?  Can  treaties  be  more  faithfully  enforced  between  aliens 
than  laws  can  among  friends  ?  Suppose  you  go  to  war,  you  cannot  fight  always ; 
and  when,  after  much  loss  on  both  sides,  and  no  gain  on  either,  you  cease  fighting, 
the  identical  old  questions,  as  to  terms  of  intercourse,  are  again  upon  you. 

"This  country,  with  its  institutions,  belongs  to  the  people  who  inhabit  it. 
Whenever  they  shall  grow  weary  of  the  existing  government,  they  can  exercise 
their  constitutional  right  of  amending  it,  or  their  revolutionary  right  to  dismember 
or  overthrow  it.  I  cannot  be  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  many  worthy  and  patriotic 
citizens  are  desirous  of  having  the  national  Constitution  amended.  While  I 


INAUGURAL   ADDRESS.  71 

no  recommendation  of  amendments,  I  fully  recognize  the  rightful  authority  of  the 
people  over  the  whole  subject,  to  be  exercised  in  either  of  the  modes  prescribed  in 
the  instrument  itself;  and  I  should,  under  existing  circumstances,  favor  rather  than 
oppose  a  fair  opportunity  being  afforded  the  people  to  act  upon  it.  I  will  venture  to 
add,  that  to  me  the  convention  mode  seems  preferable,  in  that  it  allows  amendments 
to  originate  with  the  people  themselves,  instead  of  only  permitting  them  to  take  or 
reject  propositions  originated  by  others  not  especially  chosen  for  the  purpose,  which 
might  not  be  precisely  such  as  they  would  wish  either  to  accept  or  refuse.  I  under 
stand  a  proposed  amendment  to  the  Constitution — which  amendment,  however,  I 
have  not  seen — has  passed  Congress,  to  the  effect  that  the  Federal  Government 
shall  never  interfere  with  the  domestic  institutions  of  the  States,  including  that  of 
persons  held  to  service.  To  avoid  misconstruction  of  what  I  have  said,  I  depart 
from  my  purpose  not  to  speak  of  particular  amendments  so  far  as  to  say  that,  hold 
ing  such  a  provision  now  to  be  implied  constitutional  law,  I  have  no  objections  to  its 
being  made  express  and  irrevocable. 

"The  Chief  Magistrate  derives  all  his  authority  from  the  people,  and  they  have 
conferred  none  upon  him  to  fix  terms  for  the  separation  of  the  States.  The  people 
themselves  can  do  this  also  if  they  choose ;  but  the  Executive,  as  such,  has  nothing 
to  do  with  it.  His  duty  is  to  administer  the  present  government  as  it  came  to  his 
hands,  and  to  transmit  it,  unimpaired  by  him,  to  his  successor. 

"  Why  should  there  not  be  a  patient  confidence  in  the  ultimate  justice  of  the 
people?  Is  there  any  better  or  equal  hope  in  the  world  ?  In  our  present  differen 
ces,  is  cither  party  without  faith  of  being  in  the  right  ?  If  the  Almighty  Ruler  of 
nations,  with  his  eternal  truth  and  justice,  be  on  your  side  of  the  North,  or  on 
yours  of  the  South,  that  truth  and  that  justice  will  surely  prevail,  by  the  judgment 
of  this  great  tribunal  of  the  American  people. 

"By  the  form  of  the  government  under  which  we  live,  the  same  people  have 
wisely  given  their  public  servants  but  little  power  for  mischief;  and  have,  with 
equal  wisdom,  provided  for  the  return  of  that  little  to  their  own  hands  at  very  short 
intervals.  While  the  people  retain  their  virtue  and  vigilance,  no  administration  by 
any  extreme  of  wickedness  or  folly,  can  very  seriously  injure  the  government  in  the 
short  space  of  four  years. 

"  My  countrymen,  one  and  all,  think  calmly  and  well  upon  this  whole  subject. 
Nothing  valuable  can  be  lost  by  taking  time.  If  there  be  an  object  to  hurry  any  of 
you  in  hot  haste  to  a  step  which  you  would  never  take  deliberately,  that  object 
will  be  frustrated  by  taking  time;  but  no  good  object  can  be  frustrated  by  it.  Such 
of  you  as  are  now  dissatisfied  still  have  the  old  Constitution  unimpaired,  and,  on  the 
sensitive  point,  the  laws  of  your  own  framing  under  it ;  while  the  new  administra 
tion  will  have  no  immediate  power,  if  it  would,  to  change  either.  If  it  were  ad 
mitted  that  you  who  are  dissatisfied  hold  the  right  side  in  the  dispute,  there  still  is 
no  single  good  reason  for  precipitate  action.  Intelligence,  patriotism,  Christianity, 
and  a  firm  reliance  on  Him  who  has  never  yet  forsaken  this  favored  land,  are 
still  competent  to  adjust,  in  the  best  way,  all  our  present  difficulty 


72  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

"  In  your  hands,  my  dissatisfied  fellow-countrymen,  and  not  in  mine,  is  the  mo 
mentous  issue  of  civil  war.  The  government  will  not  assail  you. 

"You  can  have  no  conflict  without  being  yourselves  the  aggressors.  You  have  no 
oath  registered  in  heaven  to  destroy  the  government ;  while  I  shall  have  the  most 
solemn  one  to  'preserve,  protect,  and  defend'  it. 

*'  I  am  loth  to  close.  We  are  not  enemies,  but  friends.  We  must  not  be  enemies. 
Though  passion  may  have  strained,  it  must  not  break  our  bonds  of  aifection. 

"  The  mystic  cords  of  memory,  stretching  from  every  battle-field  and  patriot  grave 
to  every  living  heart  and  hearthstone  all  over  this  broad  laud,  will  yet  swell  the 
chorus  of  the  Union,  when  again  touched,  as  surely  they  will  be,  by  the  better 
angels  of  our  nature." 

He  had  come  into  power  at  a  dark  and  stormy  hour.  Several 
States  had  seceded,  and  others  were  consummating  their  arrange 
ments  to  do  so.  There  was  treason  in  army  and  navy.  He  was 
almost  without  means  of  offence  or  defence. 

The  President's  first  act  was  to  construct  his  Cabinet,  which  was 
done  by  the  appointment  of  William  H.  Seward,  of  New  York, 
Secretary  of  State ;  Salmon  P.  Chase,  of  Ohio,  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury;  Simon  Cameron,  of  Pennsylvania,  Secretary  of  War; 
Gideon  Welles,  of  Connecticut,  Secretary  of  the  Navy;  Caleb  B. 
Smith,  of  Indiana,  Secretary  of  the  Interior;  Montgomery  Blair^ 
of  Maryland,  Postmaster  General ;  and  Edward  Bates,  of  Missouri, 
Attorney  General.  These  nominations  were  all  confirmed  by  the 
Senate,  and  these  gentlemen  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  their  several  offices.  Hereafter  Mr.  Lincoln's  administra 
tion  will  only  come  incidentally  under  review. 

Meanwhile  the  works  upon  which  Major  Anderson  might  not 
open  fire  were  progressing  and  were  finally  completed,  and  were 
soon  to  hurl  shot  and  shell  upon  its  doomed  defences.  On  the  1 1th 
of  April  came  the  demand  for  surrender  which  Major  Anderson  de 
clined,  but  admitted  that  unless  supplies  reached  him  before  the 
15th,  hunger  would  compel  surrender.  On  the  morning  of  the  12th, 
at  four  o'clock,  fire  was  opened  upon  some  threescore  men  from 
about  three  thousand,  though  they  knew  the  threescore  were 
cooped  for  hopeless  starvation.  The  story  has  been  often  told. 
The  garrison  did  what  it  could,  and  then  surrendered,  and  the 
national  flag  was  struck  before  the  assaulting  hands  of  men  born 
and  reared  under  its  protecting  folds.  It  was  the  first  act  in  the 
drama  of  stern,  terrible  war,  and  the  awe-struck  nation  stood  for  a 
moment  and  confronted  it — only  a  moment. 


HON.STEFHEN.A.DOUGL, 


ENGRAVED  EXERESSETFOR*  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS"  CLARKE  &  CO   PUBLrSK>:.PS 


OHAPTEE    III. 

THE  GREAT  UPRISING. 

SABBATH  AND  SUMTER — PULPITS — EXCITEMENT — How  COULD  IT  BE? — REASONS  FOR  SUR 
RENDER — WATCHWORDS  OP  LOYALTY — THE  FLAG — THE  CHURCHES — THE  PRESS— ORA 
TORY — THE  CHILDREN — WOMAN — VOICE  OF  PROVIDENCE — PRESIDENT'S  PROCLAMA- 
TION — BLOCKADING  PROCLAMATION — SPRINGFIELD — GOVERNOR  YATES'S  PROCLAMA 
TION — Six  REGIMENTS — SENATOR  DOUGLAS'S  SPRINGFIELD  SPEECH — INTERVIEW  WITH 
GOVERNOR  YATES — WIGWAM  SPEECH — ITS  INFLUENCE — His  DEATH — SPEECH  QUOT 
ED — BALTIMORE  RIOT — A  MINISTER'S  EXPRESSION — POPULAR  DEMAND  TO  TAKE  TROOPS 
THROUGH  BALTIMORE — OBJECT  OF  MOB  DEFEATED — MEN  AND  MONEY  TENDERED — PEO 
PLE  DEMAND  SHORT,  EARNEST  WAR — INFLUENCE  OF  THE  "GREAT  UPRISING"  ON  THE 

SECESSIONISTS. 

"  Throughout  the  land  there  goes  a  cry ; 
A  sudden  splendor  fills  the  sky ; 
From  every  hill  the  banners  burst, 
Like  buds  by  April  breezes  nurst ; 
In  every  hamlet,  home  and  mart, 
The  firebeat  of  a  single  heart 
Keeps  time  to  strains  whose  pulses  mix 
Our  blood  with  that  of  Seventy-Six ! 

"The  shot  whereby  the  old  flag  fell 
From  Sumter's  battered  citadel, 
Struck  down  the  lines  of  party  creed, 
And  made  ye  One  in  soul  and  deed, — 
One  mighty  people,  stern  and  strong, 
To  crush  the  consummated  wrong; 
Indignant  with  the  wrath  whose  rod 
Smites  as  the  awful  sword  of  God !" 

[BAYARD  TAYLOR,  April  30,  1861. 

THE  morning  of  Sabbath,  April  14th,  brought  to  the  principal 
cities  of  the  Union  the  announcement  that  the  flag  had  been 
struck,  and  that,  overborne  by  superior  strength,  Major  Anderson 
had  capitulated.  That  was  all,  but  that  was  enough !  Pulpits  rang 
that  S  .\bbath  with  extemporized  sermons,  yet  none  more  eloquent 
were  ever  preached.  Strong  men  bowed  their  heads  and  wept  as 


74:  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

children.  Along  the  streets  trod  hosts  of  excited  men;  martial 
music  was  heard  on  every  side,  and  active  measures  were  taken  to 
organize  military  companies. 

The  next  day  brought  more  definite  intelligence,  and  the  whole 
land  rocked  with  excitement.  At  first  there  was  surprise  bordering 
on  incredulity.  How  could  it  be  so  ?  How  could  the  strong  walls 
of  Sumter  give  way  ?  They  forgot,  in  the  hurry  of  the  moment, 
that  the  most  elaborate  and  extensive  preparations  had  been  made, 
and  that  Major  Anderson  had  been  compelled  tojsee  them  completed 
before  his  eyes,  while  he  knew  that,  if  permitted  to  do  so,  he  could 
easily  prevent  the  finishing  of  a  single  battery.  They  forgot,  for  the 
moment,  that  a  handful  of  men  was  no  match  for  eager  thousands, 
and  that  sheer  exhaustion  would  soon  cause  them  to  succumb.  They 
did  not  think,  for  the  moment,  of  the  "  hell  of  fire  "  to  which  they 
were  subjected. 

But  they  soon  remembered  it  all,  and  did  full  justice  to  the  heroic 
commandant  and  his  garrison.  And  then  came  the  terrible  con 
sciousness  that  war  was  upon  them.  The  Union  was  assailed ;  the 
right  of  the  constitutional  majority  to  rule  was  denied;  and  war 
had  begun !  Perhaps  no  single  thought  proved  more  intensely 
exciting  than  the  dishonor  of  the  flag.  It  was  the  representative  of 
Government ;  it  was  the  symbol  of  national  majesty ;  it  was  the  emblem 
of  authority  and  protection.  It  had  been  honored  on  all  seas,  had 
afforded  sanctuary  in  all  lands,  and  now  it  was  insulted  and  hauled 
down  before  home  conspirators  !  "For  the  Flag!"  "Defend  the 
Flag  !"  "  Rally  to  the  Flag !"  "Avenge  the  Stars  and  Stripes  !" 
were  mottoes  seen  in  all  places !  The  Flag  was  displayed  every 
where,  from  stores,  shops,  and  printing  offices.  It  floated  from 
church  spires,  and  draped  alike  orthodox  and  heteorodox  pulpits. 
It  flaunted  from  private  residences  and  school-rooms,  and  miniature 
ones  were  placed  upon  the  cradles  of  little  ones  soon  to  be  left  fath 
erless  by  "the  fortunes  of  war."  It  was  mounted  on  almost  every 
locomotive.  Copies  of  the  "  Star  Spangled  Banner"  and  "  The  Red, 
White  and  Blue,"  were  called  for  until  the  supply  was  exhausted, 
and  new  editions  were  demanded.  In  a  day  old  party  lines  went 
down,  and  for  a  season  we  were  again  one  people,  united  in  the 
determined  purpose  of  National  Salvation.  Nineteen  millions  of 


THE    PULPIT    AND    PRESS.  75 

people  were  intensely  excited;  moving  like  vast  waves  surging 
before  a  great  wind. 

In  the  churches,  pulpits  thundered  stern  denunciations  of  Rebel 
lion.  The  ministers  declared  that  God  had  set  this  land  midway 
between  the  oceans  as  a  great  political  and  religious  missionary 
land.  They  showed  that  He  marked  it  as  the  home  of  a  united 
people,  and  that  when  He  aforetime  determined  the  bounds  of  our 
habitation,  He  gave  us  this  laud  to  be  made,  in  its  entirety,  the  land 
of  free  speech,  free  presses,  free  schools,  free  pulpits,  free  men  and 
women.  They  said  He  has  so  built  its  mountains  as  to  bind 
together,  not  divide,  the  North  and  the  South ;  and  what  God  hath 
joined  together,  let  no  man  or  body  of  men  put  asunder  !  He  has 
traced  the  great  rivers  of  the  continent  so  they  cannot  be  dividing 
lines  between  the  States  of  the  Cotton,  the  Rice  and  the  Sugar,  and 
those  of  the  Wheat,  the  Corn  and  the  Barley,  with  the  beds  of  coal 
and  the  spindles  of  industry.  They  said  He  hath  made  it  one,  and 
never  can  it  be  cut  in  twain.  More  than  one,  at  the  very  outset,  saw 
that  the  contest  was  between  Freedom  and  Slavery,  and  putting 
on  the  prophet's  mantle,  said:  "Slavery  hath  taken  the  sword: 
it  shall  perish  by  the  sword."  Not  in  the  Crusades  was  the  re 
ligious  spirit  more  marked,  causative,  and  controlling  than  in  THE 
GREAT  UPRISING  of  1861. 

The  Press  was  active.  Political,  Secular  and  Religious  alike 
made  appeal  after  appeal.  Secular  papers  teemed  with  prophecy, 
sermon  and  exhortation.  Religious  papers  were  crowded  with  proc 
lamations,  general  orders  and  war  songs. 

Oratory  played  its  part,  and  from  rostrum,  from  out-door  stands, 
from  court-house  steps  and  hotel  balconies,  speakers  addressed 
masses  of  people  animated  with  one  great  purpose. 

The  children  caught  the  fever,  and  each  school  had  its  play-ground 
transformed  into  a  parade-ground,  while  small  drums,  miniature 
cannon  and  harmless  small  arms,  were  the  playthings  of  the 
nursery. 

Elsewhere,  "Woman's  works"  remain  to  be  noted,  and  it  is 
enough  to  say  that,  knowing  that  war  meant  bereavement  of  hus 
bands,  sons,  brothers  and  plighted  lovers,  the  women  said  the  na 
tion's  honor  must  be  preserved,  no  matter  at  what  cost ! 


76  PATRIOTISM  OF    ILLINOIS. 

Everywhere,  the  American  people  heard  the  voice  of  Providence, 
saying : 

"  Draw  forth  your  million  blades  as  one  ; 
Complete  the  battle  now  begun ! 
GOD  FIGHTS  WITH  YE,  and  overhead 
Floats  the  dear  banner  of  your  dead. 
They  and  the  glories  of  the  Past, 
The  Future,  dawning  dim  and  vast, 
And  all  the  holiest  hopes  of  Man 
Are  beaming  triumph  in  your  van. 

"  Slow  to  resolve,  be  swift  to  do  ! 
Teach  ye  the  False  how  fight  the  True ! 
How  bucklered  Perfidy  shall  feel 
In  her  black  heart,  the  Patriot's  steel ; 
How  sure  the  bolt  that  Justice  wings ; 
How  weak  the  arm  a  traitor  brings ; 
How  mighty  they  who  steadfast  stand 


All  eyes  were  turned  toward  the  National  Capital,  and  the  eager 
question  went  from  lip  to  lip :  "  What  will  the  President  do  ?" 
The  question  was  soon  answered.  Before  nightfall  on  Monday,  the 
15th,  was  transmitted,  by  telegraph,  the  following  Proclamation: 

PROCLAMATION. 

By  tlie  President  of  t/ie  United  States. 

"WHEREAS,  The  laws  of  the  United  States  have  been  for  some  time  past  and  now 
are  opposed,  and  the  execution  thereof  obstructed,  in  the  States  of  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and  Texas,  by  combinations  too 
powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary  course  of  judicial  proceedings,  or  by  the 
powers  vested  in  the  marshals  by  law :  now,  therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  Presi 
dent  of  the  United  States,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the  Constitution 
and  the  laws,  have  thought  fit  to  call  forth,  and  hereby  do  call  forth,  the  militia  of 
the  several  States  of  the  Union  to  the  aggregate  number  of  75,000,  in  order  to  sup 
press  said  combinations,  and  to  cause  the  laws  to  be  duly  executed. 

"The  details  for  this  object  will  be  immediately  communicated  to  the  State  au 
thorities  through  the  War  Department.  I  appeal  to  all  loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facili 
tate,  and  aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  the  integrity,  and  existence  of  our 
national  Union,  and  the  perpetuity  of  popular  government,  and  to  redress  wrongs 
already  long  enough  endured.  I  deem  it  proper  to  say  that  the  first  service  assign 
ed  to  the  forces  hereby  called  forth,  will  probably  be  to  re-possess  the  forts,  places 
and  property  which  have  been  seized  from  the  Union ;  and  in  every  event  the  ut- 


PRESIDENT'S  PROCLAMATION.  77 

rnoSt  care  will  be  observed,  consistently  with  the  objects  aforesaid,  to  avoid  any  de 
vastation,  any  destruction  of,  or  interference  with,  property,  or  any  disturbance  of 
peaceful  citizens  of  any  part  of  the  country ;  and  I  hereby  command  the  persons 
composing  the  combinations  aforesaid^  to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  re-* 
spective  abodes,  within  twenty  days  from  this  date. 

"  Deeming  that  the  present  condition  of  public  affairs  presents  an  extraordinary 
occasion,  I  do  hereby,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the  Constitution,  con 
vene  both  houses  of  Congress.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  are,  therefore, 
summoned  to  assemble  at  their  respective  Chambers  at  twelve  o'clock,  noon,  on 
Thursday,  the  fourth  day  of  July  next,  then  and  there  to  consider  and  determine 
8uch  measures  as,  in  their  wisdom,  the  public  safety  and  interest  may  seem  to  de 
mand. 

"  In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  caused  the  seal  of  the 
United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"  Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  fifteenth  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  and  of  the  independence  of  tho 
United  States  the  eighty-fifth. 

"  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 
"  By  the  President, 

"  WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State." 

This  was  followed,  on  the  19th,  by  the  celebrated  Blockading 
Proclamation,  which  is  here  appended  : 

A  PROCLAMATION, 

By  ths  President  of  tJie  United  States. 

"  WHEREAS,  An  insurrection  against  the  government  of  the  United  States  has 
broken  out  in  the  States  of  South  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi, 
Louisiana  and  Texas,  and  the  laws  of  the  United  States  for  the  collection  of  the 
revenue  cannot  be  efficiently  executed  therein  conformable  to  that  provision  of  the 
Constitution  which  requires  duties  to  be  uniform  throughout  the  United  States  ; 

"  And,  whereas,  a  combination  of  persons,  engaged  in  such  insurrection,  have  threat 
ened  to  grant  pretended  letters  of  marque,  to  authorize  the  bearers  thereof  to  conv 
mit  assaults  on  the  lives,  vessels,  and  property  of  the  good  citizens  of  the  country, 
lawfully  engaged  in  commerce  on  the  high  seas,  and  in  waters  of  the  United 
States ; 

"And,  wJiereas,  an  Executive  Proclamation  has  already  issued,  requiring  the  persons 
engaged  in  these  disorderly  proceedings  to  desist  therefrom,  calling  out  a  militia 
force  for  the  purpose  of  repressing  the  same,  and  convening  Congress  in  extraor 
dinary  session  to  deliberate  and  determine  thereon  ; 

"Now,  therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United  States,  with  a  view- 
to  the  same  purposes  before  mentioned,  and  to  the  protection  of  the  public  peace, 
and  the  lives  and  property  of  quiet  and  orderly  citizens  pursuing  their  lawful  occu 
pations,  until  Congress  shall  have  assembled  and  deliberated  on  the  said  unlawful 


78  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS, 

proceedings,  or  until  the  same  shall  have  ceased,  have  further  deemed  it  advisable 
to  set  on  foot  a  blockade  of  the  ports  within  the  States  aforesaid,  in  pursuance  of 
the  laws  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  laws  of  nations,  in  such  cases  provided. 
For  this  purpose,  a  competent  force  will  be  posted  so  as  to  prevent  entrance  and 
exit  of  vessels  from  the  ports  aforesaid.  If,  therefore,  with  a  view  to  violate  such 
blockade,  a  vessel  shall  approach,  or  shall  attempt  to  leave  any  of  the  said  ports, 
she  will  be  duly  warned  by  the  commander  of  one  of  the  blockading  vessels,  who 
will  endorse  on  her  register  the  fact  and  date  of  such  warning ;  and  if  the  same 
vessel  shall  again  attempt  to  enter  or  leave  the  blockaded  port,  she  will  be  cap 
tured  and  sent  to  the  nearest  convenient  port,  for  such  proceedings  against  her  and 
her  cargo,  as  prizes,  as  may  be  deemed  advisable. 

"  And  I  hereby  proclaim  and  declare,  that  if  any  person,  under  the  pretended  au 
thority  of  such  States,  or  under  any  other  pretence,  shall  molest  a  vessel  of  the 
United  States,  or  the  persons  or  cargo  on  board  of  her,  such  persons  will  be  held 
amenable  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States  for  the  prevention  and  punishment  of 
piracy. 

"By  the  President.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN, 

"WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State. 

"WASHINGTON,  April  19,  1861." 

These  documents  convinced  all  that  war  would  be  waged  until 
rebellion  should  be  suppressed,  and  they  intensified  the  popular  en 
thusiasm. 

In  this  State  all  eyes  were  turned  toward  Springfield.  It  was 
known  that  Governor  Yates  had  expressed  himself  determined  to 
use  every  means  to  maintain  the  unity  of  the  States,  and  none 
doubted  that  his  measures  would  be  promptly  taken  It  was  known 
that,  in  view  of  possible  war,  Judge  Allen  C.  Fuller  had  accepted 
the  position  of  Adjutant  General  of  the  State,  and  there  was  confi 
dence  in  his  integrity  and  executive  ability. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  following  die 
patch  had  been  received  at  Springfield  : 

"WASHINGTON,  April  15,  1861. 
"His  Excellency,  Richard  Yates: 

"  Call  made  on  you  by  to-night's  mail  for  six  regiments  for  immediate  service. 

"  SIMON  CAMERON,  Secretary  of  War." 

On  the  same  date  Governor  Yates  issued  the  following  Proclama 
tion: 

"  SPRINGFIELD,  111.,  April  15,  1861. 

"  I,  RICHARD  YATES,  Governor  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  by  virtue  of  the  authority 
vested  in  me  by  the  Constitution,  hereby  convene  the  Legislature  of  the  State,  and 


THROUGH    BALTIMORE,  79 

the  members  of  the  twenty-second  session  of  the  General  Assembly  are  hereby  re 
quired  to  be  and  appear  in  their  respective  places,  at  the  Capitol,  on  TUESDAY,  the 
twenty-third  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1861,  for  the  purpose  of  enacting  such  laws  and 
adopting  such  measures  as  may  be  deemed  necessary,  upon  the  following  subjects  : 
The  more  perfect  organization  and  equipment  of  the  militia  of  the  State,  and  plac 
ing  the  same  upon  the  best  footing  to  render  assistance  to  the  General  Government 
in  preserving  the  Union,  enforcing  the  laws  and  protecting  the  property  and  rights 
of  the  people;  also,  the  raising  of  such  money  and  other  means  as  may  be  required 
to  carry  out  the  foregoing  object ;  and  also  to  provide  for  the  expenses  of  such 
session. 

"In  testimony  whereof,  I  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and  have  caused  the  Great  Seal  of 
the  State  to  be  hereunto  affixed  at  the  City  of  Springfield,  the  15th  day  of  April, 
A.  D.  1861. 

"RICHARD  YATES. 
"By  order  of  the  Governor: 

"  0.  M.  HATCH,  Secretary  of  State." 

General  Order  No.  1  was  issued  on  the  15th,  from  the  head 
quarters  at  Springfield,  directing  all  commandants  of  divisions, 
brigades,  regiments  and  companies  to  hold  themselves  ready  for 
actual  service;  and  on  the  16th,  Order  No.  2  provided  for  the  imme 
diate  organization  of  the  six  regiments,  and  within  ten  days,  more 
than  ten  thousand  men  had  offered  their  services ;  and  in  addition  to 
the  force  dispatched  to  Cairo,  more  than  the  full  quota  was  in  camp 
at  Springfield. 

A  little  later  two  other  circumstances  increased  the  intensity  of 
public  feeling.  The  first,  the  news  of  the  assault  on  the  Massachu 
setts  sixth  and  Pennsylvania  troops  by  the  Baltimore  mob.  Nobly 
has  that  city  redeemed  itself  from  that  disgrace,  but  when  the 
news  was  read  in  Chicago,  on  the  morning  of  the  20th,  that  on 
the  day  preceding,  brave  men,  rushing  to  the  defense  of  the  Capital, 
were  murdered  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  there  was  a  demand  for 
the  sternest  measures.  Excited  groups,  pale  with  indignation,  gath 
ered  on  the  corners  and  asked  to  be  armed  and  led  to  Washington 
through  Baltimore.  Said  a  minister  of  eminence,  in  his  sacred 
calling :  "I  was  born  in  Baltimore ;  I  have  loved  its  name ;  my 
kindred  are  there,  but  I  should  rejoice  to  know  that  it  was  laid  in 
ashes."  The  State  was  agitated  beyond  description  when  it  was 
learned  that  the  route  to  Washington  was  thus  closed  by  violence. 
In  common  with  sister  States,  it  demanded  that  the  way  should  be 
opened,  not  around  the  city,  as  alarmists  suggested,  but  through  it. 


80  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

The  policy  which  consented  temporarily  to  another  route  was  con 
demned  as  an  unwise  and  undignified  concession  to  a  brutal  mob, 
itself  the  tool  of  the  secession  leaders.  That  mob  was  expected  to 
stay  the  march  of  Union  troops  until  Washington  should  be  captured. 
Its  failure  was  felt  to  be  the  first  rebel  defeat  of  the  campaign. 

The  other  was  the  course  of  Senator  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Mr, 
Lincoln's  competitor  for  the  Presidency.  They  had  been  political 
antagonists,  and,  as  we  have  seen,  had  represented  opposing  policies. 
Mr.  Douglas  possessed  great  popular  power.  He  had  a  command 
ing  will — was  bold  to  audacity ;  as  an  orator,  he  had  few  equals, 
whether  he  spoke  to  the  American  Senate,  or  to  the  masses  who 
gathered  on  the  prairies  of  his  own  State,  In  the  great  uprising, 
there  were  whispers  that  there  were  parts  of  the  State  whose  sym 
pathies,  from  ancestry,  trade  and  political  affinities  were  with  the 
South,  and  that  they  would  not  go  with  Mr*  Lincoln  in  the  coercion 
of  sovereign  States.  It  was  said  they  would  range  themselves 
under  another  banner,  and  that  the  southern  counties  of  Indiana 
were  with  them. 

These  localities  had  been  devoted  to  Mr.  Douglas,  and  had  stead 
ily  and  enthusiastically  supported  him. .  He  waited  on  the  Presi 
dent,  and  expressed  his  concurrence  in  the  policy  of  calling  out  the 
troops  and  maintaining  the  national  honor  at  all  hazards,  and  on  the 
18th  set  his  face  toward  the  West. 

Reaching  Springfield,  on  the  25th  he  addressed  the  two  houses  of 
the  Illinois  Legislature  in  a  style  of  magical  power.  He  said  : 

"For  the  first  time  since  the  adoption  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  a  wide-spread 
conspiracy  exists  to  overthrow  the  best  government  the  sun  of  heaven  ever  shone 
upon.  An  invading  army  is  marching  upon  Washington.  The  boast  has  gone  forth 
from  the  Secretary  of  War  of  the  so-called  Confederate  States,  that  by  the  first  of 
May  the  rebel  army  will  be  in  possession  of  the  National  Capital,  and,  by  the  first 
of  July,  its  headquarters  will  be  in  old  Independence  Hall. 

"The  only  question  for  us  is,  whether  we  shall  wait  supinely  for  the  invaders,  or 
rush,  as  one  man,  to  the  defence  of  that  we  hold  most  dear.  Piratical  flags  arc 
afloat  on  the  ocean,  under  pretended  letters  of  marque.  Our  Great  River  has  been 
closed  to  the  commerce  of  the  Northwest.  ******* 
So  long  as  a  hope  remained  of  peace,  I  plead  and  implored  for  compromise.  Now, 
that  all  else  has  failed,  there  is  but  one  course  left,  and  that  is  to  rally,  as  one  man, 
under  the  flag  of  Washington,  Jefferson,  Hamilton,  Madison  and  Franklin.  At 
what  time  since  the  government  was  organized,  have  the  constitutional  rights  of 
the  South  been  more  secure  than  now  ?  For  the  first  time  since  the  Constitution 


SENATOB    DOUGL.YS — HIS    LAST    WORK.  81 

\V;i3  adopted,  there  is  no  legal  restriction  against  the  spread  of  slavery  in  the  terri 
tories.  When  was  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  more  faithfully  executed  ?  What  single 
act  has  been  done  to  justify  this  mad  attempt  to  overthrow  the  Republic?  We  are 
told  that  because  a  certain  party  has  carried  a  Presidential  election,  therefore  the 
South  chose  to  consider  their  liberties  insecure  !  I  had  supposed  it  was  a  finda- 
niental  principle  of  American  institutions,  that  the  will  of  the  majority,  constitu 
tionally  expressed,  should  govern !  [Applause.]  If  a  defeat  at  the  ballot  box  is 
to  justify  rebellion,  the  future  history  of  the  United  States  may  be  read  in  the  past 
history  of  Mexico. 

******»-»***»** 

"It  is  a  prodigious  crime  against  the  freedom  of  the  world,  to  attempt  to  blot  the 
United  States  out  of  the  map  of  Christendom.  ****** 

How  long  do  you  think  it  will  be  ere  the  guillotine  is  in  operation?  Allow  me  to 
«iay  to  my  former  political  enemies,  you  will  not  be  true  to  your  country  if  you  seek 
to  make  political  capital  out  of  these  disasters  [applause]  ;  and  to  my  old  friends, 
you  will  be  false  and  unworthy  of  your  principles  if  you  allow  political  defeat  to 
convert  you  into  traitors  to  your  national  land.  [Prolonged  applause.]  The  short 
est  way  now  to  peace  is  the  most  stupendous  and  unanimous  preparations  for  war. 
[Storms  of  applause.] 

"Gentlemen,  it  is  our  duty  to  defend  our  Constitution  and  protect  our  flag." 

While  in  Springfield,  he  and  Governor  Yates  met.  Between 
these  two  gentlemen  there  had  been  bitter  feelings,  growing  out  of 
political  contests.  Bat  what  were  past  party  conflicts  to  them  now, 
as  they  stood  face  to  face,  each  bent  on  the  salvation  of  his  country  ? 
Nothing  and  less  than  nothing. 

The  Senator  next  proceeded  to  Chicago,  where  men  of  all  parties 
hailed  his  coining  with  a  grand  ovation.  He  again  spoke  ;  this  time 
— and  the  last — in  the  "Republican  Wigwam,"  the  building  in 
which  was  held  the  Convention  which  nominated  his  successful  rival, 
Abraham  Lincoln.  It  was  an  effort  worthy  the  last  public  hours  of 
the  statesman's  life.  Its  arguments  were  unanswerable — its  appeals 
irresistible.  He  closed,  returned  to  his  rooms  at  the  Tremont 
House,  to  die ! 

It  is  scarcely  too  much  to  say  that  those  two  speeches  united  the 
West,  and  prevented  the  horrors  of  civil  war  on  this  side  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  River.  They  were  as  the  word  of  the  prophets  of  old,  fall 
ing  upon  the  public  conscience  and  the  public  heart.  His  voice  had 
such  power  as  had  no  other. 

"  One  blast  upon  his  bugle  horn 
Was  worth  a  thousand  men." 

His  speeches  were  transmitted  by  telegraph ;  they  were  copied  into 
6 


82  PATRIOTISM   OF  ILLINOIS. 

newspapers ;  they  were  read  in  all  homes,  and  the  cry  sped  from  lip 
to  lip — "  Douglas  sustains  Lincoln !"  In  vain  did  the  emissaries  of 
Davis  cry  "No  coercion."  "Douglas  sustains  Lincoln,"  not  as  Lin 
coln,  but  as  President  of  an  assailed  Republic,"  was  too  strong  for 
their  piping  treason. 

Lying  in  his  sick-room,  he  dictated  his  last  letter,  on  the  10th  of 
May.  It  was  addressed  to  Virgil  Hickox,  Chairman  of  the  State 
Central  Democratic  Committee.  In  that  he  said  :  "  It  seems  that 
some  of  my  friends  are  unable  to  comprehend  the  difference  between 
arguments  used  in  favor  of  an  equitable  compromise,  with  the 
hope  of  averting  the  horrors  of  war,  and  those  urged  in  support  of 
the  government  and  flag  of  our  country,  when  war  is  being  waged 
against  the  United  States,  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  producing  a 
permanent  disruption  of  the  Union  and  a  total  destruction  of  its 
government. 

In  this  view  of  the  state  of  facts,  there  was  but  one  path  of  duty 
left  to  patriotic  men.  It  was  not  a  party  question,  nor  a  question 
involving  partisan  policy ;  it  was  a  question  of  government  or  no 
government  •  country  or  no  country  /  and  hence  it  became  the  im 
perative  duty  of  every  union  man,  every  friend  of  constitutional 
liberty,  to  rally  to  the  support  of  our  common  country,  its  govern* 
ment  and  flag,  as  the  only  means  of  checking  the  progress  of  revo 
lution  and  preserving  the  Union. 

I  trust  the  time  will  never  come  when  I  shall  not  be  willing  to  make 
any  needful  sacrifice  of  personal  feeling  and  party  policy  for  the 
honor  and  integrity  of  the  country." 

And  when  the  word  "  Douglas  is  dead,"  was  flashed  along  the 
wires,  men  of  all  parties  wept.  They  came  from  almost  every 
county  in  Illinois,  to  look  upon  his  remains  as  they  lay  in  state  in 
Bryan  Hall;  and  as  they  passed  the  pile  on  which  they  rested,  few 
looked  upon  them  who  did  not  feel  that  the  last  days  of  his  life 
were  incomparably  the  most  glorious.  He  had  crowned  his  pyra 
mid  with  a  capital  of  stars!  The  long  procession  which  followed 
his  body  to  the  quiet  grave  on  the  western  shore  of  the  gran  lake 
he  so  much  loved,  followed  not  the  partisan — not  the  eloquent  8  >na- 
tor — but  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  THE  PATRIOT!  Old  strifes  wviv  for 
gotten;  old  blows  forgiven;  old  feuds  buried. 

His  words  completed  the  majesty  of  the  "Gnat  Uprising;"  they 
completed  the  prostration  of  party  lines,  and  the  unity  of  the  people. 


WIGWAM:  SPEECH.  83 

It  is  diie  to  liis  memory  that  we  place  in  this  chapter  some  extracts 
from  his  last  speech : 

"I  beg  you  to  believe  that  I  will  not  do  you  or  myself  the  injustice  to  think  that 
this  magnificent  ovation  is  personal  to  myself.  I  rejoice  to  know  that  it  expresses 
your  devotion  to  the  Constitution,  the  Union,  and  the  flag  of  our  country.  I  will  not 
conceal  .gratification  at  the  incontrovertible  test  this  vast  audience  presents — that, 
what  political  differences  or  party  questions  may  have  divided  us,  yet  you  all  had  a 
conviction  that,  when  the  country  should  be  in  danger,  my  loyalty  could  be  relied 
on.  That  the  present  danger  is  imminent,  no  man  can  conceal.  If  war  must  come — 
iif  the  bayonet  must  be  used  to  maintain  the  Constitutional  say  before  God,  my 
conscience  is  clean.  I  have  struggled  long  for  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  difficulty* 
I  have  not  only  tendered  those  States  what  was  theirs  of  right,  but  I  have  gone  to 
the  very  extreme  of  magnanimity. 

*'The  return  we  receive  is  war;  armies  marched  upon  our  Capital;  obstructions  and 
dangers  to  our  navigation ;  tetters  of  marque,  to  invite  pirates  to  prey  upon  our  com 
merce  ;  a  concerted  movement  to  blot  out  the  United  States  of  America  from  tho 
map  of  the  globe.  The  question  is,  Are  we  to  maintain  the  country  of  our  fathers, 
'or  allow  it  to  be  stricken  down  by  those  who,  when  they  can  no  longer  govern, 
threaten  to  destroy  ? 

"  What  cause,  what  excuse  do  disunionists  give  us,  for  breaking  up  the  best  Gov 
ernment  on  which  the  sun  of  heaven  ever  shed  its  rays-?  They  are  dissatisfied  with 
the  result  of  the  Presidential  election.  Did  they  never  get  beaten  before  ?  Are  we 
to  resort  to  the  sword  when  we  get  defeated  at  the  ballot  box  ?  I  understand  it  that 
the  voicft  of  the  people  expressed  in  the  mode  appointed  by  the  Constitution,  must 
command  the  obedience  of  every  citizen.  They  assume,  on  the  election  of  a  par 
ticular  candidate,  that  their  rights  are  not  safe  in  the  Union.  What  evidence  do 
they  present  of  this  ?  I  defy  any  man  to  show  any  act  on  which  it  is  based.  What 
act  has  been  omitted  to  be  done  ?  I  appeal  to  these  assembled  thousands,  that  so 
far  as  the  constitutional  rights  of  slaveholders  are  concerned,  nothing  has  been  done, 
•and  nothing  omitted,  of  which  they  can  complain. 

"There  has  never  been  a  time  from  the  day  that  Washington  was  inaugurated  first 
President  of  the  United  States,  when  the  rights  of  the  Southern  States  stood  firmer 
under  the  laws  of  the  land  than  they  do  now ;  there  never  Was  a  time  when  they 
had  not  as  good  cause  for  disunion  as  they  have  tor-day.  What  good  cause  have 
they  now  that  has  not  existed  under  every  administration? 

"  If  they  say  the  Territorial  question — now,  for  the  first  time,  there  is  no  act  of 
Congress  prohibiting  slavery  anywhere,  If  it  be  the  non-enforcement  of  the  laws, 
the  only  complaints,  that  I  have  heard,  have  been  of  the  too  vigorous  and  faithful 
fulfillment  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law  ?  Then  what  reason  have  they  ? 

"  The  slavery  question  is  a  mere  excuse.  The  election  of  Lincoln  is  a  mere  pre 
text.  The  present  secession  movement  is  the  result  of  an  enormous  conspiracy 
formed  more  than  a  yea*  since,  formed  bv  tenders  in  the  Southern  Confederacy  more 
'than  twelve  months  ago, 

"But  this  is  »o  time  for  the  detail  of   causes.     The  conspiracy  is  now  known. 


84  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Armies  have  been  raised,  war  is  levied  to  accomplish  it.  There  are  only  two  si-Jeff 
to  the  question.  Every  man  must  be  for  the  United  States  or  aguinst  it.  There 
can  be  no  neutrals  in  this  war;  only  patriots — or  traitors. 

"  Thank  God,  Illinois  is  not  divided  on  this  question.  I  know  they  expected  to 
present  a  united  South  against  a  divided  North.  They  hoped  in  the  Northern 
States  party  questions  would  bring  civil  war  between  Democrats  and  Republicans, 
when  the  South  would  step  in  with  her  cohorts,  aid  one  party  to  conquer  the  other, 
and  then  make  easy  prey  of  the  victors.  Their  scheme  was  carnage  and  civil  war 
in  the  North. 

"  There  is  but  one  way  to  defeat  this.  In  Illinois  it  is  being  so  defeated  by  clos 
ing  up  the  ranks.  War  will  thus  be  prevented  on  our  own  soil.  While  there  was  a 
hope  for  peace,  I  was  ready  for  any  reasonable  sacrifice  or  compromise  to  maintain 
it.  But  when  the  question  comes  of  war  in  the  cotton  fields  of  the  South,  or  the 
corn  fields  of  Illinois,  I  say  the  further  off  the  better. 

"  I  have  said  more  than  I  intended  to  say.  It  is  a  sad  task  to  discuss  questions  so 
fearful  as  civil  war;  but  sad  as  it  is,  bloody  and  disastrous  as  I  expect  it  will  be,  I 
express  it  as  my  conviction  before  God,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  American  citizen 
to  rally  around  the  flag  of  his  country. 

"  I  thank  you  again  for  this  magnificent  demonstration.  By  it  you  show  you  have 
laid  aside  party  strife.  Illinois  has  a  proud  position — united,  firm,  determined  never 
to  permit  the  government  to  be  destroyed." 

The  uprising  of  the  people  tendered  to  the  Government  all  it 
wanted  of  men  and  means,  only  asking  that  there  should  be  a  shorty 
sharp,  earnest  campaign,  the  speedy  suppression  of  rebellion  and  the 
restoration  of  the  Union. 

From  the  outset  the  people  were  in  advance  of  the  calls  of  the 
government.  They  asked  the  privilege  of  going  into  war.  They 
tendered  brigades  where  the  administration  only  asked  for  regi 
ments.  This  uprising,  on  a  scale  of  such  grandeur,  and  with  spirit 
so  intense,  was  evidently  unexpected  to  secessionists.  They  had  so 
long  vaunted  themselves  the  masters  of  "  Northern  mudsills,"  that 
they  had  ended,  greatly  to  their  cost,  in  believing  it  themselves,  and 
thought  they  had  but  to  frown  and  Northern  men  would  fly  trem 
bling  to  their  retreats.  They  further  expected  Northern  divisions  to 
so  weaken  us  as  to  counterbalance  our  numerical  supremacy. 

But  instead  of  these  things,  they  saw  an  outburst  of  military  en 
thusiasm.  They  saw  the  nation  of  tradesmen  suddenly  a  nation  of 
soldiers,  and  a  UNITED  NORTH  ready  to  do  tL'em  battle  for  right  of 
constitutional  authority  and  for  the  majesty  of  law.  And  seeing 
that,  they  knew  war  awaited  them,  stern  and  ULCompromisiug  waiy 
and  they  girded  themselves  to  meet  it. 


H ON" .  R 1 0  HAf?  D  " & V r  E  Si 


EilGRAVED  F,APF'i-:SSLT  EOi?" PATRIOTISM' OF  [LLOJC 


CHAPTER     IV. 

EARLY  WAR  MEASURES. 

PATRIOTIC  GOVERNORS — RICHARD  YATES — PARENTAGE  AND  EDUCATION — STATE  LEGIS 
LATURE — IN  CONGRESS — ELECTED  GOVERNOR — INAUGURAL — WHAT  SHALL  BE  DONE? — 
ADJUTANT-GENERAL  FULLER — FIRST  CALL  FOR  TROOPS — THE  SITUATION — THE  MILI 
TIA — PROCLAMATION — SPECIAL  MESSAGE — AID — GENERAL  ORDERS  Nos.  1,  2 — CHAR 
ACTER  OF  THE  FIRST  CALL — WHY  WAS  IT  so? — PERHAPS — HOPES  OF  PEACE — AWAIT 
ING  CONGRESS — MR.  CAMERON  ox  THE  SITUATION — RICHMOND  ENQUIRER — THE  NAVY — 
AFTER  THE  EVENT — EGYPT  AND  ISRAEL. 

IT  was  surely  providential  that  in  the  loyal  States  there  were  so 
many  Governors  who  proved  to  be,  emphatically,  men  for  the 
hour.  There  was  Andrews  of  Massachusetts,  Dennison  and  Tod  of 
Ohio,  Curtin  of  Pennsylvania,  Morton  of  Indiana,  with  the  noble  of 
executives  of  Michigan,  Iowa,  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota.  With 
these,  as  the  earnest  patriot,  the  stirring  orator,  the  efficient  admin 
istrator,  the  active  and  prudent  Commander-in-Chief,  Illinois  writes 
the  name  of  her  citizen- Governor,  RICHARD  YATES. 

He  was  born  at  Warsaw,  Gallatin  county,  Kentucky.  In  1831  his 
father  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Springfield.  He  graduated 
at  Illinois  College,  Jacksonville,  and  subsequently  studied  the  pro 
fession  of  law  with  Col.  J.  J.  Hardin,  who  fell  in  the  Mexican  war. 
He  represented  his  country  three  times  in  the  State  Legislature.  In 
1850,  he  was  nominated,  by  a  Whig  Convention,  to  represent  his 
'district  in  Congress,  and  was  elected,  and  found  himself  the  young 
est  member  of  the  body.  In  spite  of  a  change  in  the  district,  which, 
it  was  supposed,  secured  it  to  the  opposite  party,  he  was  elected 
over  Mr.  John  Calhoun,  a  popular  leader  of  the  other  party.  At 
the  next  election  he  was  defeated,  the  district  sustaining,  by  its  vote, 
the  "  Nebraska  Bill "  measure  of  Senator  Douglas. 

While  in  Congress  he  made  his  mark  as  an  able  member,  and  an 
able  opponent  of  the  extension  of  the  area  of  slavery.  His  opposi 
tion  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  and  its  associate 


86  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

legislation  was  stern  and  persistent.  In  I860  he  received  the  nomi 
nation  of  the  Republican  State  Convention  as  its  candidate  for 
Governor,  and  after  a  spirited  and  exciting  canvass  was  elected. 

On  th&  14th  of  January  he  delivered  his  inaugural  message  to  the 
General  Assembly,  and  in  discussing  national  affairs,  showed  that, 
while  disposed  to  tender  every  lawful  measure  of  pacification,  the 
State  of  Illinois,  as  represented  by  its  executive  chief  officer  would 
maintain  the  Union  and  vindicate  the  right  of  constitutional  majori 
ties.  He  said : 

"  Whatever  may  have  been  the  divisions  of  parties  hitherto,  the  people  of  Illinois 
will,  with  one  accord,  give  their  assent  and  firm  support  to  two  propositions : 

"  FIRST — That  obedience  to  the  Constitution  and  the  laws  must  be  insisted  upon,, 
and  enforced  as  necessary  to  the  existence  of  the  government. 

"  SECOND — That  the  election  of  a  chief  magistrate  of  the  nation  in  strict  conform 
ity  with  the  constitution,  is  no  sufficient  cause  for  the  release  of  any  State  from  any 
of  its  obligations  to  the  Union. 

"  A  minority  of  the  people  may  be  persuaded  that  a  gi-eat  error  has  been  com 
mitted  by  such  election,  but  for  relief  in  such  a  contingency,  the  Constitution  looks 
to  the  efficacy  of  frequent  elections,  and  has  placed  it  in  the  power  of  the  people  to 
remove  their  agents  and  servants  at  win  The  working  of  our  government  is  based 
upon  the  principles  of  the  indisputable  rights  of  majorities.  To  deny  the  right  of 
those,  who  have  constitutionally  succeeded  by  ballot  to  stations  only  to  be  so  occu 
pied,  is  not  merely  unfair  and  unjust,  but  revolutionary ;  and  for  a  party  which  has 
constitutionally  triumphed,  to  surrender  the  powers  it  has  won,  would  be  an  ignoble 
submission,  a  degradation  of  manhood,  a  base  desertion  of  the  people's  service,, 
which  should  inevitably  consign  it  to  the  scorn  of  Christendom  and  the  infamy  of 
history. 

"The  American  people  need  no  assurance  that  the  Republican  party,  valuing  as 
it  ought  the  triumph  it  has  won,  will  never  be  disposed  to  yield  its  honors  or  avoid 
its  duties.  They  not  only  claim,  but  intend  to  have  the  administration  for  the  period 
of  time  allotted  to  them  by  the  Constitution. 

"  To  give  shape  and  form  to  their  purpose  of  resistance,  the  dissatisfied  leaders 
of  the  South  Carolina  movement  have  revived  the  doctrine,  long  since  exploded, 
that  a  State  may  nullify  a  law  of  Congress  and  secede  from  the  Union  at  pleasure. 
Such  a  doctrine  can  never  for  a  moment  be  permitted.  Its  admission  would  be  fatal 
to  the  existence  of  government,  would  dissolve  all  the  relations  which  bind  the 
people  together,  and  reduce  to  anarchy  the  order  of  the  Republic. 

"This  is  a  government  entered  into  by  the  people  of  the  whole  country  in  their 
sovereign  capacity,  and  although  it  have  the  sanction  also,  of  a  compact  between 
sovereign  States,  does  not  receive  its  chief  support  from  that  circumstance,  but  from 
the  original  and  higher  action  of  the  people  themselves. 


INAUGURAL    MESSAGE.  87 

"This  Union  cannot  be  dissolved  by  one  State,  nor  by  the  people  of  one  SMIM-  or 
of  a  dozen  States.  This  government  was  designed  to  be  perpetual  and  can  bo  dis 
solved  only  by  revolution. 

"  Secession  is  disunion.  Concede  to  South  Carolina  the  right  to  release  her  people 
from  the  duties  and  obligations  belonging  to  their  citizenship  and  you  annihilate  the 
sovereignty  of  the  Union  by  prostrating  its  ability  to  secure  allegiance.  Could  a 
government  which  could  not  vindicate  itself,  and  which  had  exhibited  such  a  sign 
of  weakness,  command  respect  or  long  maintain  itself?  If  that  State  secede,  why 
may  not  California  and  Oregon,  and  with  better  reason,  because  they  are  remote 
from  the  Capital,  and  separated  by  uninhabited  wildernesses  and  vast  mountain 
ranges,  and  may  have  an  independent  commerce  with  the  shores  and  islands  of  the 
Pacific  and  the  marts  of  the  Indies  ?  Why  may  not  Pennsylvania  secede  and  dis 
pute  our  passage  to  the  seaboard  through  her  territory  ?  Why  may  not  Louisiana 
constitute  herself  an  independent  nation,  and  dictate  to  the  people  of  the  great 
Northwest  the  onerous  terms  upon  which  her  millions  of  agricultural  and  industrial 
products  might  find  a  transit  through  the  Mississippi  and  be  delivered  to  the  com 
merce  of  the  world. 

"It  will  be  admitted  that  the  territory  of  Louisiana,  acquired  in  1803,  for  the  pur 
pose  of  securing  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mis 
sissippi,  could  never  have  seceded ;  yet  it  is  pretended,  that  when  that  territory  has 
so  perfected  its  municipal  organization  as  to  be  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State, 
with  the  powers  and  privileges  equal  to  the  other  States,  she  may  at  pleasure  repu 
diate  the  union  and  forbid  to  the  other  States  the  free  navigation  which  was  pur 
chased  at  the  cost  of  all,  not  for  Louisiana,  but  for  all  the  people  of  the  United 
States.  A  claim  so  presumptuous  and  absurd  could  never  be  acquiesced  in.  The 
blood  of  the  gallant  sons  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  was  freely  shed  to  defend  New 
Orleans  and  the  Mississippi  river  from  a  foreign  foe  ;  and  it  is  memorable  that  the 
chieftain  who  rescued  that  city  from  sack  and  siege,  was  the  same  who,  at  a  later 
date,  by  his  stern  and  patriotic  rebuke,  dispersed  the  ranks  of  disunionists  in  the 
borders  of  South  Carolina. 

"  Can  it  be  for  a  moment  supposed,  that  the  people  of  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi 
will  ever  consent  that  the  great  river  shall  flow  for  hundreds  of  miles  through  a 
foreign  jurisdiction,  and  they  be  compelled — if  not  to  fight  their  way  in  the  face  of 
the  forts  frowning  upon  its  banks — to  submit  to  the  imposition  and  annoyance  of 
arbitrary  taxes  and  exorbitant  duties  to  be  levied  upon  their  commerce  ?  I  believe 
that  before  that  day  shall  come,  either  shore  of  the  "Father  of  Waters"  will  be  a 
continuous  sepulcher  of  the  slain,  and,  with  all  its  cities  in  ruins,  and  the  cultivated 
fields  upon  its  sloping  sides  laid  waste,  it  shall  roll  its  foaming  tide  in  solitary  gran 
deur,  as  at  the  dawn  of  creation.  1  know  I  speak  for  Illinois,  and  I  believe  for  the 
Northwest,  when  I  declare  them  a  unit  in  the  unalterable  determination  of  her 
millions,  occupying  the  great  basin  drained  by  the  Mississippi,  to  permit  no  portion 
of  that  stream  to  be  controlled  by  a  foreign  jurisdiction. 

"  If,  wearied  by  the  persistent  clamors  and  panics  accompanying  these  ceaseless 
threats  of  secession,  any  good  citizen  has  suffered  himself  to  entertain  a  thought 


88  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

that  the  peace  and  unity  of  the  nation  might  be  promoted  by  the  withdrawal  of  the 
dissatisfied  State  or  States,  let  him  remember  that  this  Union  is  an  inheritance  from 
our  fathers,  to  be  transmitted  by  us  to  our  posterity,  and  that  the  great  hope  of 
down-trodden  humanity  throughout  the  world  is  in  its  permanence.  Let  us  never 
forget  the  solemn  warnings  of  the  Father  of  his  Country,  that  'we  should  accustom 
ourselves  to  think  and  speak  of  the  Union  as  the  palladium  of  our  political  safety 
and  prosperity,  discountenancing  whatever  may  suggest  even  a  suspicion  that  it  can, 
in  any  event,  be  abandoned.' 

"  So  deeply  impressed  were  Jackson,  Webster  and  Clay,  with  the  conviction  that 
the  durability  and  efficiency  of  our  free  institutions  depended  upon  a  perpetual, 
unbroken  Union,  that  they  have  left,  upon  many  a  page  of  the  national  history,  most 
eloquent  warnings  that  the  thought,  even,  that  the  Union  could  be  dissolved,  was 
never  to  be  entertained.  The  veteran  Cass  has  said  that  the  man  'who  believed 
this  Union  could  be  broken  up  without  bloodshed,  has  read  history  to  little  purpose.' 
As  we  love  our  common  country  in  all  its  parts,  and  with  all  its  blessings  of  climates 
and  cultures,  its  mountains,  valleys  and  streams;  as  we  cherish  its  history,  and  the 
memory  of  the  world's  only  Washington;  as  we  love  the  grand  old  flag,  'sign  of  the 
free  heart's  only  home,'  that  is  cheered  and  hailed  on  every  sea  and  haven  of  the 
world,  let  us  swear  that  its  glories  shall  never  be  dimmed — that  there  shall  be  no 
secession,  no  disunion — and  that  the  American  people  shall  be  one  and  united,  now 
and  forever. 

"  I  believe  and  trust  it  is  to  be  the  mission  of  those  to  whom  the  people  have 
latelv  committed,  for  a  period,  the  interests  of  this  nation,  to  administer  public 
affairs  upon  the  theory  of  THE  PERPETUITY  OP  THE  CONSTITUTION  AND  THE  GOVERN 
MENT  ORGANIZED  UNDER  IT. 

"  No  matter  how  vociferously  South  Carolina  may  declare  that  the  Union  is  dis 
solved,  and  that  she  and  other  States  are  out  of  the  confederacy,  no  recognition 
whatever  is  due  to  her  self-assumed  independence  in  this  regard.  It  took  seven 
years  to  establish  our  independence.  The  precious  boon  purchased  by  patriot  blood 
and  treasure  was  committed  to  us  for  enjoyment,  and  to  be  transmitted  to  our  pos 
terity,  with  the  most  solemn  injunctions  that  man  has  the  power  to  lay  on  man.  By 
the  grace  of  God,  we  will  be  faithful  to  the  trust.  For  seven  years  yet  to  come,  at 
least,  will  we  struggle  to  maintain  a  perfect  union — a  government  of  one  people,  in 
one  nation,  under  one  Constitution." 

He  then  asked,  "  What  is  to  be  done?"  and  suggested  that  if  any 
grievances  had  been  wrought  by  Northern  States,  they  should  be 
redressed,  even  though  the  complaint  comes  from  States  which  have 
ignored  the  rights  of  Northern  citizens.  Tho  Fugitive  Slave  Lnw, 
with  all  its  errors,  must  be  enforced  while  it  stands  unrcpealod  ;  if 
any  State  laws  exist  which  contravene  the  letter  or  spirit  of  the  Con 
stitution  they  should  be  repealed,  and  "  let  all  parties  cordially  unite 
and  assure  the  South  that  the  North  has  no  design  or  purpose  to  in- 


THE    NATION    INDISSOLUBLE.  89 

terfere  with  slavery  in  the  States,  and  entertain  no  hostility  to  the 
people  of  ths  slave  States."  But  if  lawless  resistance  should  not 
willingly  yield  to  constitutional  authority,  then  it  must  be  compelled 
to  do  so.  He  said : 

"  I  know  not  what  the  exigencies  of  the  future  may  be,  nor  what  remedies  it  may 
be  necessary  to  use,  but  the  administration  of  the  incoming  President,  I  have  no 
doubt,  will  be  characterized  by  wisdom  as  well  as  firmness.  He  certainly  will  not 
forget  that  the  people  of  all  the  United  States,  whether  loyal  or  not,  are  citizens  of 
the  same  Republic,  component  parts  of  the  same  integral  Union.  He  never  will  for 
get,  so  long  as  he  remembers  his  official  oath,  that  the  whole  material  of  the  govern 
ment,  moral,  political,  and  physical,  if  need  be,  must  be  employed  to  preserve,  pro 
tect  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.  In  such  an  event  as  this  I 
hesitate  not  to  say,  that  the  General  Assembly,  without  a  dissenting  voice,  and  the 
people  of  Illinois,  would  unanimously  pledge  the  men  and  means  of  the  State  to 
uphold  the  Constitution  and  preserve  the  Union.  To  those  who  would  distrust  the 
loyalty  of  the  American  people  to  the  Union,  let  the  spontaneous  response  of  the 
national  heart,  borne  upon  ten  thousand  streams  of  lightning  to  the  heroic  Anderson, 
answer. 

"  It  is,  perhaps,  impossible  to  tell  what  may  be  the  exact  result  of  this  South  Carolina 
nullification,  but  do  what  she  will,  conspire  with  many  or  few,  I  am  confident  that 
this  Union  of  our  fathers — a  Union  of  intelligence,  of  freedom,  of  justice,  of  in 
dustry,  of  religion,  of  science  and  art,  will,  in  the  end,  be  stronger  and  richer  and 
more  glorious,  renowned  and  free,  than  it  has  ever  been  heretofore,  by  the  necessary 
reaction  of  the  crisis  through  which  we  are  passing. 

"As  to  our  own  State,  we  are  closely  allied  in  origin,  in  kindred,  in  sympathy,  in 
interest,  in  civilization  and  in  destiny,  with  many  of  the  best  of  both  the  slave  and 
the  free  states,  and  though  young  in  years,  we  have  learned  to  be  proud  of  our 
orig'n,  and  of  our  neighbors,  and  of  our  sister  States.  No  State  has  entered  into  the 
recent  political  campaign  with  more  intense  partisan  prejudices  and  zeal  than  our 
own.  Each  opposing  party  nominated  for  the  Presidency  the  favorite  son  not  only 
of  the  State,  but  of  the  Northwest.  We  fought  the  canvass  through  to  the  hilt; 
but  the  moment  the  contest  was  decided,  the  world  was  at  a  loss  to  know  which 
most  to  admire,  the  exuberant  joy  of  the  victors,  or  the  admirable  gallantry,  grace 
and  dignity  of  the  unsuccessful  party.  We  have  put  one  of  our  champions  into  the 
Presidency,  the  other  still  stands  in  the  Senate,  places  almost  equal  for  usefulness ; 
which  will  achieve  most  honor  to  himself  and  good  to  his  country  and  the  world, 
time  will  decide.  We  will  believe  that  neither  will  prove  coward  in  the  fight,  or 
traitor  to  the  cause.  On  the  question  of  the  union  of  these  States  they,  and  all  our 
people,  will  be  a  unit.  The  foot  of  the  traitor  has  never  yet  blasted  the  green 
award  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  All  the  running  waters  of  the  Northwest  are  waters 
of  freedom  and  union,  and  come  what  will,  as  they  glide  to  the  great  gulf,  they  will 
ever,  by  the  ordinance  of  '87,  and  by  the  higher  ordinance  of  Almighty  God,  bear 
only  free  men  and  free  trade  upon  their  bosoms,  or  their  channels  will  be  filled  with 
the  commingled  blood  of  traitors,  cowards  and  slaves." 


90  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

The  first  call  for  troops  was  made  on  the  15th  of  April,  1861,  by 
Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of  War,  requiring  the  Governor  to 
detach  from  the  State  militia  225  officers  and  4,458  men,  to  compose 
six  regiments.  The  order,  "  to  detach,"  supposed  the  previous  exist 
ence  of  an  efficient,  organized  militia  force,  properly  officered  and 
equipped,  capable  of  being  called  at  once  into  active  service.  Such 
was  not  the  case.  In  the  long  sway  of  peace,  the  people  had  neg 
lected  the  "mimic  show  of  war;"  few  companies  were  organized; 
fewer  still  were  drilled  and  supplied  with  arms.  Plowshares 
instead  of  swords,  pruning-hooks  instead  of  spears  or  bayonets,  was 
the  order  from  Lake  Michigan  to  the  Great  River. 

Adjutant- General  Fuller,  in  his  Report  for  1861-2,  gives  the  sit 
uation  : 

"From  papers  turned  over  to  me  by  iny  predecessor,  I  find  but  twenty-five  bonds 
for  the  return  of  arms  issued  to  militia  companies  in  1857-8-9  and  '60,  and  during 
that  time  but  thirty-seven  certificates  of  the  election  of  company  officers.  It  will 
furthermore  appear  from  the  report  of  the  Quartermaster-General,  who,  until  about 
the  first  of  April,  1862,  had  charge  of  the  Ordnance  Department,  there  were  but 
three  hundred  and  sixty-two  United  States  altered  muskets,  one  hundred  and  five 
Harper's  Ferry  and  Deniger's  rifles,  one  hundred  and  thirty-three  musketoons  and  two 
hundred  and  ninety-seven  horse  pistols  in  the  arsenal.  A  few  hundred  unservicea 
ble  arms  and  accoutrements  were  scattered  through  the  State,  principally  in  posses 
sion  of  the  militia  companies.  In  fact,  there  were  no  available,  efficient,  armed 
and  organized  militia  in  the  State,  and  it  is  doubted  whether  there  were  thirty  com 
panies  with  any  regular  organization.  It  is  true  there  were  in  our  principal  cities 
and  towns  several  independent  militia  companies  whose  occasional  meetings  for  drill 
were  held  more  for  exercise  and  amusement  than  from  any  sense  of  duty  to  the 
State.  Many  of  these  formed  the  nucleus  of  splendid  companies,  which  came 
promptly  forward,  and  who  have  rendered  excellent  service  to  their  State  and 
country." 

The  day  the  Governor  received  the  call  of  the  War  Department,  he 
issued  a  proclamation  for  a  special  session  of  the  Legislature    to 
meet  on  the  23d  of  April.     As  part  of  the  history  of  the  beginning 
of  the  war  some  extracts  from  the  message  are  appended : 
« 

THE  OCCASION. 

"The  Constitution  authorizes  me  on  extraordinary  occasions  to  convene  the  Legis 
lature  in  special  sessions.  Certainly  no  occasion  could  have  arisen  more  extraor 
dinary  than  the  one  which  is  now  presented  to  us.  A  plan  conceived  and  cherished 
by  some  able  but  misguided  statesman  of  the  Southern  States  for  many  years  past, 


1  EFFORTS   TO    SECUKE    PEACE.  91 

founded  upon  an  inadmissible  and  destructive  interpretation  of  our  national  consti 
tution,  considered  until  very  recently  as  merely  visionary,  has  been  partially  carried 
into  practical  execution  by  ambitious  and  restless  leaders,  to  the  great  peril  of  our 
noble  Union,  of  our  Democratic  institutions  and  of  our  public  and  private  pros 
perity. 

"  The  popular  discontent,  consequent  inevitably  upon  a  warmly-contested  Presi 
dential  election,  which  heretofore  has  always  soon  subsided  amongst  a  people  hav 
ing  the  profoundest  respect  for  their  self-imposed  laws,  and  bowing  respectfully 
before  the  majesty  of  the  popular  will,  constitutionally  expressed  ;  this  discontent 
was  in  this  instance  artfully  seized  upon,  and  before  there  was  time  for  the  angry 
passions  to  subside,  one  State  after  another  was  precipitated  out  of  the  Union  by  a 
machinery,  wanting  in  most  instances,  the  sanction  of  the  people  in  the  seceding 
States. 

"No  previous  effort  was  made  by  the  disloyal  States  to  procure  redress  for  sup 
posed  grievances.  Impelled  by  bold  and  sagacious  leaders,  disunionists  at  heart, 
they  spurned  in  advance  all  proffers  of  compromise.  The  property  of  the  Union, 
its  forts  and  arsenals,  costing  the  people  of  all  the  States  enormous  sums  of  money, 
were  seized  with  a  strong  hand.  Our  noble  flag,  which  had  protected  the  now  seced 
ing  portions  of  the  Confederacy  within  its  ample  folds  in  their  infancy,  and  which  is 
the  pride  of  every  true  and  loyal  American  heart,  and  which  had  become  respected 
and  revered  throughout  the  world  as  the  symbol  of  democracy,  and  liberty,  was  in 
sulted  and  trampled  in  the  dust.  ********* 

"A  conference  of  Commissioners,  at  the  instance  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Vir 
ginia,  was  held  at  the  Capital,  attended  by  nearly  all  the  border  States  and  all  the 
free  States,  with  but  one  or  two  exceptions.  Propositions  of  a  highly  conciliatory 
character  were  adopted  by  a  majority  of  the  free  States  represented  in  said  confer 
ence  ;  but  before  Congress  had  even  time  to  consider  them,  they  were  denounced  by 
leading  men  in  the  border  States,  and  by  almost  every  one  of  their  members  of 
Congress,  as  unsatisfactory  and  inadmissible,  though  they  met  the  approval  of  the 
best  patriots  and  of  the  mass  of  the  people  in  the  border  States.  The  seceded 
States  treated  them  with  the  utmost  contempt.  That,  under  such  circumstances, 
and  when  no  practical  object  could  be  obtained,  the  representatives  of  the  free 
States  declined  to  adopt  them,  is  no  matter  of  surprise. 

"  A  proposition,  first  made  by  the  Legislature  of  Kentucky,  for  the  call  of  a  Na 
tional  Constitutional  Convention,  as  provided  in  the  Constitution,  for  the  redress  of 
all  grievances,  undoubtedly  the  best  and  surest  mode  of  settling  all  difficulties,  was 
responded  to  by  Illinois,  and  by  many  other  free  States,  and  such  a  convention  was 
definitely  recommended  by  the  present  administration  on  its  advent  to  the  govern 
ment.  Enough  had  been  done  by  the  border  and  free  States  to  satisfy  every 
rational  mind  that  the  South  would  have  nothing  to  fear  from  any  measures  to  be 
passed  by  Congress,  or  by  any  of  the  State  Legislatures. 

"  Public  sentiment  was  everywhere,  in  the  free  States,  for  peace  and  compromise. 
No  better  proof  could  be  required,  that  the  conspiracy,  which  has  now  assumed  such 
formidable  dimensions,  and  which  is  threatening  the  destruction  of  the  fairest 


92  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

fabric  of  human  wisdom  and  human  liberty,  is  of  long  standing,  and  is  wholly  inde 
pendent  of  the  election  of  a  particular  person  to  the  Presidential  office,  tlian  t he- 
manner  in  which  the  seceded  States  have  acted  toward  their  loyal  brethren  of  the 
South  and  North  since  they  have  entered  upon  their  criminal  enterprise.  We  must 
do  them,  however,  the  justice  to  say,  that  all  their  public  documents,  and  all  the 
speeches  of  their  controlling  leaders,  candidly  admit  that  the  Presidential  election 
has  not  been  the  cause  for  their  action,  and  that  they  were  impelled  by  far  different 
motives.  ************* 

"  The  spirit  of  a  free  and  brave  people  is  aroused  at  last  Upon  the  first  call  of 
the  constitutional  government  they  are  rushing  to  arms.  Fully  justified  in  the  eyes 
of  the  world  and  in  the  light  of  history,  they  have  resolved  to  save  the  government 
of  our  fathers,  to  preserve  the  Union  so  dear  by  a  thousand  memories  and  promising 
so  much  of  happiness  to  them  and  their  children,  and  to  bear  aloft  the  flag  which 
for  eighty-five  years  has  gladdened  the  hearts  of  the  struggling  free  on  every  conti 
nent,  island  and  sea  under  the  whole  heavens.  Our  own  noble  State,  as  of  yore, 
has  responded  in  a  voice  of  thunder.  The  entire  mass  is  alive  to  the  crisis.  If,  in 
Mexico,  our  Hardin  and  Shields,  and  Bissell  and  Baker,  and  their  gallant  comrades, 
were  found  closest  to  their  colors,  and  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  and  shed  imper 
ishable  luster  upon  the  fume  and  glory  of  Illinois,  now  that  the  struggle  is  for  our 
very  Nationality,  and  for  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  her  every  son  will  be  a  soldier  and 
bare  his  breast  to  the  storm  of  battle. 

"  The  attack  upon  Fort  Sumter  produced  a  most  startling  transformation  on  the 
Northern  mind,  and  awakened  a  sleeping  giant,  and  served  to  show,  as  no  other 
event  in  s.ll  the  history  of  the  past  ever  did,  the  deep-seated  fervor  and  affection 
with  which  our  whole  people  regard  our  glorious  Union.  Party  distinctions  van 
ished  as  a  mist,  in  a  single  night,  as  if  by  magic  ;  and  parties  and  party  platforms 
wore  swept  as  a  morning  dream  from  the  minds  of  men ;  and  now  men  of  all  parties, 
by  thousands,  are  begging  for  places  in  the  ranks.  The  blood  of  twenty  millions  of 
freemen  boils,  with  cauldron  heat,  to  replace  our  national  flag  upon  the  very  walls 
whence  it  was  insulted  and  by  traitor  hands  pulled  down.  Every  village  and  ham 
let  resounds  with  beat  of  drum  and  clangor  of  arms.  Three  hundred  thousand  men 
wait,  the  click  of  the  wires  for  marching  orders,  and  all  the  giant  energies  of  the 
Northwest  are  at  the  command  of  the  government.  Those  who  have  supposed  that 
the  people  of  the  free  States  will  not  fight  for  the  integrity  of  the  Union,  and  that 
they  will  suffer  another  government  to  be  carved  out  of  the  boundaries  of  thie 
Union,  have  hugged  a  fatal  delusion  to  their  bosoms,  for  our  people  will  wade 
through  seas  of  blood  before  they  will  see  a  single  star  or  a  solitary  stripe  erased 
from  the  glorious  flag  of  our  Union. 

ASSISTANCE  RENDERED. 

The  Governor  thus  refers  to  aid  rendered  him  by  gentlemen  of 
adverse  political  sentiments,  and  by  the  citizens  of  various  portions 
of  the  State : 

"  The  services  already  rendered  me,   in  my  effort  to  organize   troops,    provide 


AMENDMENTS    SUGGESTED.  $'3 

,  ftrms  and  provisions,  by  distinguished  members  of  the  party,  hitherto  op 
posed  to  me  in  political  sent'ments,  are  beyond  all  praise,  and  are  by  me,  i:i  behalf 
of  the  State,  most  cheerfully  acknowledged.  There  are  now  more  companies  re 
ceived  than  are  needed  under  the  Presidential  call,  and  almost  unlimited  nu:nbera 
have  formed  and  are  forming,  awaiting  further  orders.  A  single  inland  county  (La 
Salic)  tenders  nine  full  companies,  and  our  principal  city  (Chicago)  has  responded 
with  contributions  of  men  and  money  worthy  of  her  fame  for  public  spirit  and 
patriotic  devotion.  Nearly  a  million  of  money  has  been  offered  to  the  State,  as  a 
loan,  by  our  patriotic  capitalists  and  other  private  citizens,  to  pay  the  expenses  con^ 
nected  with  the  raising  of  our  State  troops  and  temporarily  providing  for  them." 

NEEDED  LEGISLATION. 

In  this  sudden  emergency,  when  the  call  was  made  by  the  National  Government,  I 
found  myself  greatly  embarrassed,  by  what  still  remains  on  our  statute  book,  as  a 
militia  law,  and  by  the  entire  want  of  organization  of  our  military  force.  A  great 
portion  of  this  law  has  grown  entirely  obsolete,  and  cannot  be  carried  out,  and 
moreover  is  in  conflict  with  the  instructions  of  the  war  department,  which  latter 
are  based  on  the  various  military  laws  of  the  United  States  now  in  force.  But  aa 
far  as  possible,  I  have  made  an  effort  to  keep  within  the  provisions  of  our  law. 

"I  have  to  call  your  attention  most  emphatically  to  the  enactment  of  a  practica 
ble  militia  law,  as  recommended  in  ray  Inaugural  Address,  which  should  recognize 
the  principle  of  volunteering  as  one  of  its  most  prominent  features.  It  ought  to  be 
plain  and  intelligible  as  well  as  concise  and  comprehensive.  It  ought  to  provide  for 
many  emergencies  and  future  contingencies,  and  not  for  the  present  moment  alone. 
I  trust  that  our  conflict  will  not  be  a  protracted  one  ;  but  if  it  unfortunately  should 
be,  we  may  well  expect  that  tvhat  is  now  done  by  enthusiasm,  and  in  the  first  effer 
vescence  of  popular  excitement,  may  hereafter  have  to  be  done  by  a  stern  sense  of 
duty,  to  be  regulated  by  an  equally  stern  law.  Trials  may  come,  which  can  only  be 
met  by  endurance  arid  patient  performance  of  prescribed  duty. 

"  I  deem  the  passage  of  a  well  digested  militia  law  the  more  necessary,  as  it 
seems  to  me,  that  the  present  levy  of  troops,  which  will  soon  pass  under  the  control 
of  the  General  Government,  is  insufficient  to  protect  our  State  against  threatened  in 
vasion,  and  such  commotions  as  frequently  follow  in  the  train  of  war:  I  would  recom 
mend  to  keep  an  active  militia  force,  consisting  of  infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery, 
for  some  time  to  come,  at  least ;  also  a  reserve  force  for  protection  against  dangers 
of  any  kind,  and  for  the  purpose  of  readily  complying  from  time  to  time,  with  the 
requisitions  of  the  General  Government 

"It  is  for  you,  representatives  of  the  people,  if  you  coincide  with  my  views  in 
this  respect,  to  pass  the  proper  laws  to  accomplish  the  objects  recommended  to 
your  most  earnest  consideration.  *##*##*"** 

"I  recommend  the  appropriation  by  the  Legislature  of  a  sum  not  exceeding  three 
millions  of  dollars,  so  much  of  which  only  is  to  be  expended  as  the  public  exigen 
ces  may  require ;  and  I  would  further  recommend  that  the  law  be  passed  authoriz- 


04  PATHlOf  ISM  0#  ILLINOIS* 

ing  the  Governor  to  accept  the  services  of  ten  regiments,  in  addition  to  those  al 
ready  called  out  by  the  general  government. 

"Though  the  Constitution  has  very  properly  restricted  the  contracting  of  a  pub 
He  debt  in  all  ordinary  cases,  it  has,  with  commendable  foresight,  provided  for  cases 
of  emergency  such  as  the  present,  in  allowing  loans  to  be  made  'for  the  purpose  ol 
Repelling  invasion,  suppressing  insurrection,  or  defending  the  State  in  war,'  I  in 
vite  you  to  a  prompt  action  on  this  all  important  subject,  and  feel  no  hesitation  that 
you  will  come  forward  with  a  zeal  and  alacrity^  in  providing  ample  means  for  the 
present  emergency,  corresponding  to  the  devotion  of  our  people  to  their  sacred 
honor  and  their  glorious  flag. 

"It  has  come  to  my  knowledge  that  there  are  several  thousand  stand  of  arms 
scattered  over  the  State^,  which  are,  however,  not  of  the  most  approved  construe*- 
tion,  and  need  to  be  exchanged  for  others,  or  to  be  provided  with  the  more  modern 
appliance,  to  make  them  serviceable.  I  have  already  instituted  means  to  have  these 
collected  at  the  State  Armory  at  the  Capital,  and  what  disposition  shall  be  made  of 
them  is  respectfully  submitted  to  your  consideration. 

"  Other  measures  may  be  necessary  by  you  for  the  purpose  of  lending  efficient 
assistance  to  the  General  Government  in  preserving  the  Union,  enforcing  the  laws, 
and  protecting  the  rights  and  property  of  the  people,  which  I  must  leave  to  your 
judgment  and  wisdom.  As  one  of  such  measures,  however,  I  recommend  the  pro 
priety  of  passing  a  law  restraining  the  telegraph  in  our  State  from  receiving  and 
transmitting  any  messages,  the  object  of  which  shall  be  to  encourage  a  violation  of 
the  laws  in  this  State  or  the  United  States-,  and  to  refuse  all  messages  in  cipher,  ex 
cept  when  they  are  sent  by  the  State  or  national  authorities,  or  citizens  known  to 
be  loyal. 

"  And  how,  as  we  love  our  common  country,  in  all  its  parts,  with  all  its  blessings 
of  climate  and  culture ;  its  mountains,  valleys  and  streams ;  as  we  cherish  its  his 
tory  and  the  memory  of  the  world's  only  Washington ;  as  we  love  Our  free  civiliza 
tion,  striking  its  roots  deep  down  into  those  principles  of  truth  and  justice  eternal 
fts  God ;  as  we  love  our  government  so  free,  our  institutions  so  noble,  our  boun 
daries  so  broad;  as  we  love  our  grand  old  flag-,  'sign  of  the  free  heart's  only  home,' 
that  is  cheered  and  hailed  in  every  sea  and  haven  of  the  world,  let  us  resolve  that  we 
will  preserve  that  Union  and  those  institutions,  and  that  there  shall  be  no  peace  till 
the  traitorous  and  bloodless  palmetto  shall  be  hurled  from  the  battlements  of  Sum- 
ter,  and  the  star-spangled  banner  in  its  stead  wave  defiantly  in  the  face  of  traitors, 
with  every  star  and  every  stripe  flaming  from  all  its  ample  folds." 

On  reception  of  the  call,  General  Order  No.  1  was  issued  from 
headquarters,  requiring  all  commandants  of  divisions,  brigades, 
regiments  and  companies,  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  actual 
service,  and  on  the  15th,  General  Order  No.  2  directed  the  imme 
diate  organization  of  the  six  regiments. 

In  reviewing   the  war,  and    looking  back  upon   the   formidable 


CALL,  95 

preparations  made  by  the  secessionists,  it  is  at  once  matter  of  sur- 
prise  and  regret  that  the  first  call  Was  for  75,000  instead  of  500, "00  ' 
men,  and  for  the  brief  term  of  ninety  days  instead  of  three  or  five 
years* .  Perhaps,  trusting  to  that  love  of  country  which  had  been  so 
prominent  a  characteristic  to  the  American  people,  the  President 
Imd  faith  that  the  sober  second  thought  would  rescue  the  Southern 
people  from  the  ma3lstrom  of  treason,  and  that,  when  the  misguided 
leaders  should  see  that  the  Government  would  preserve  its  authority, 
integrity  and  existence  at  every  price,  and  that  a  separate  confedera 
cy  could  only  be  established  by  a  costly  war,  extending  almost  in- 
definitely,  they  would  recoil  from  the  opening  gulf,  would  decline  to 
lay  down  the  crimson  consideration.  Perhaps  there  was  an  over* 
confidence  in  the  existence  of  Union  sentiment  in  the  revolted 
States,  and  yet  a  comprehensive  view  of  the  whole  subject  would 
have  suggested  that  the  Union  sentiment  in  South  Carolina,  Georgia 
or  Alabama  needed  large  armies  to  give  it  assurance. 

The  President  was  reluctant  to  concede  the  existence  of  wa¥) 
hence  his  proclamation  summoned  the  militia  of  the  States  to  "  sup 
press  combinations  too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordinary 
course  of  judicial  proceedings  or  by  the  powers  vested  in  marshals 
by  law,"  and  with  this,  he  would  be  content  to  await  the  action  of 
Congress,  which,  by  the  same  proclamation,  he  convened  in  special 
session  on  the  4th  of  July  following,  leaving  it  to  decide,  after  it 
should  be  seen  that  the  States  in  rebellion  should  refuse  to  recognize 
the  demands  of  the  government  and  to  bow  to  its  authority,  what 
further  "measures  the  public  Safety  and  interests  may  seem  to 
demand." 

It  is  also  true  that  the  President  found  the  government  almost 
destitute  of  the  arms  and  munitions  of  war.  Said  Mr.  Secretary 
C-im'.'ron:  "Upon  my  appointment  to  the  position,  I  found  the  de- 
pa-t'ii  >nt  destitute  of  all  the  means  of  defence— without  guns,  and 
with  little  prospect  of  purchasing  the  material  of  war;  I  found  the 
nrt; ••  «  without  an  army,  and  I  found  scarcely  a  man  throughout  the 
wl  War  Department  in  whom  I  could  put  my  trust.  The  Adju- 
tfl!.:  M'Tal  deserted.  The  Quartermaster-General  ran  off.  The 
C  ^u-y  General  was  on  his  death-bed.  More  than  half  the 

clorks  were  disloyal" 


96  PATRIOTISM  OF 

Tli:it  the  Secretary  did  not  overstate  the  appalling  difficulties  we 
have  the  confirmatory  evidence  of  rebel  authorities.  Said  the  Rich 
mond  Enquirer: 

"  The  facts  we  are  about  to  state  are  official  and  indisputable.  Under  a  single 
order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  the  Hort.  Mr.  Floyd,  made  during  the  last  year,  there 
were  115,000  improved  muskets  and  rifles  sent  from  the  Springfield  Armory,  Mass., 
and  Watervliet  Arsenal,  N.  Y.,  to  different  arsenals  at  the  South.  The  total  num 
ber  of  improved  arms,  thus  supplied  to  five  depositories  in  the  South,  by  a  single 
order  of  the  late  Secretary  of  War,  was  114,868." 

Another  secession  organ  (Memphis  Appeal),  stated  that  there 
had  been  distributed  at  different  convenient  points  in  the  South, 
707,000  stand  of  arms,  and  200,000  revolvers.  Not  less  discourag 
ing  was  the  state  of  the  Navy.  Demoralization  prevailed  among  its 
officers,  and  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Welles,  said  in  his  official  report, 
"  Many  of  whom  (the  officers)  occupying  the  most  responsible  posi 
tions,  betrayed  symptoms  of  that  infidelity  which  has  dishonored  the 
service."  "  The  Home  Squadron  consisted  of  twelve  vessels  carry 
ing  187  guns  and  about  2,000  men.  Of  this  squadron  only  four 
small  vessels,  carrying  25  guns  and  about  280  men  were  in  Northern 
ports." 

The  people  have  since  shown  that  they  can  create  armies  and  im 
provise  navies,  and  had  they  been  trusted,  half  a  million  might  have 
been  in  the  field  or  in  camps  of  instruction  before  the  meeting  of 
Congress. 

We  must  remember  that  all  this  is  written  after  the  events,  and  in 
the  light  of  history,  rather  than  in  the  dim  twilight  of  uncertainty  and 
the  haze  of  doubt  in  which  were  Lincoln  and  his  advisers.  And  in 
our  very  delays  are  seen  the  developing  plans  of  the  Infinite,  who 
was  leading  our  nation  out  of  its  Egypt  of  bondage  into  an  Israel  of 
freedom. 


OHAPTEE   V. 

EARLY  STATE  MOVEMENTS— ORGANIZATION. 

TEN  DAYS'  WORK — TEN  THOUSAND — WITHOUT  ARMS — STATE  MESSENGER  IN  BALTI 
MORE — IMPORTANCE  OF  CAIRO— RIYER  AND  RAILWAY  KEY — YATES'S  ORDER  TO  GEN. 
SWIFT— MEANS  BUSINESS — CAIRO  EXPEDITION — EQUIPMENT — ^BiG  MUDDY — AT 
CAIRO — ARTILLERY  AMUNiTiON1— A  TRIO  OP  BORDER  GOVERNORS — IMPERTINENCE — 
KENTUCKY  NEUTRALITY — Pious  BERIAH — GOVERNOR'S  SPECIAL  MESSAGE — GRIM  RO 
MANCE — BRASS  MISSIONARIES-^CAIRO  IN  KENTUCKY — COL,  PRENTISS  IN  COMMAND — 
CONTRABAND  TRADE — SEIZURE  OP  STEAMERS— ^CARGO~LEGISLATIVE  ACTION — 
WAR-FOOTING — NUMBERING  REGIMENTS — TEN  REGIMENT  BILL — DISTRICT  HEADQUAR 
TERS—PRESIDENT'S  SECOND  CALL — CAPTAIN  STOKES — ST.  Louis  ARSENAL — SECES> 
SIONIST  DIFFICULTIES — TACT  AND  COURAGE — SUCCESS — "  STRAIGHT  FOR  ALTON." 

Within  ten  days  after  the  proclamation  of  Governor  Yates  was 
published,  more  than  ten  thousand  men  had  offered  their  services. 
On  all  sides,  enlistments  went  rapidly  forward,  and  there  was  earn 
est  competition  for  the  perilous  honor  of  acceptance. 

But  the  State  was  without  arms.  In  addition  to  the  former  ex 
tracts  from  the  Adjutant- General's  report,  the  following  paragraphs 
show  how  deplorable  was  the  condition  of  a  State  "  on  the  border," 
and  liable  to  immediate  invasion : 

There  being  no  serviceable  arms  in  the  arsenal  at  Springfield,  an  unsuccessful  ap 
plication  was  made  to  Brigadier-General  Harney,  at  the  arsenal  in  St.  Louis.  Ap 
plication  was  also  made,  on  the  19th,  at  the  arsenal  at  New  York  and  a  messenger 
dispatched  to  Washington  to  obtain  them.  As  these  troops  were  to  be  mustered  in 
to  the  service  of  the  United  States,  on  the  19th,  more  than  our  full  quota  having 
been  tendered,  application  was  made  for  a  mustering  officer,  and  on  the  22d  Captain 
Pope  arrived  to  perform  that  service.  There  were  volunteers  enough,  and  a  sur 
plus,  on  that  eventful  19th  of  April,  1861,  but  the  want  of  arms  had  become  painful 
and  alarming.  It  was  on  that  day  that  Union  soldiers  from  a  sister  State,  hastening 
to  the  defence  of  the  National  Capitol  were  shot  down  .in  the  streets  of  Baltimore ; 
and  on  that,  and  following  days,  that  your  messenger,  returning  from  that  Capitol, 
and  bearing  concealed  orders  from  the  President  to  the  commanding  officer  at  St 


98  PATRIOTISM  OF    ILLINOIS. 

Louis  for  arras,  was  obliged  to  deny  the  principles  of  his  manhood,  and  avow  disloy 
al  sentiments,  to  escape  the  vengeance  of  an  infuriated  mob  in  that  city." 

The  unprofessional  common  sense  of  the  people,  as  well  as  the 
judgment  of  military  authorities,  pronounced  Cairo  a  point  of  strate 
gic  importance,  valuable  for  defence,  and  as  a  depot  for  supplies.  It 
is  situated  at  the  confluence  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rivers,  and  is 
the  key  to  the  navigation  of  both.  It  is  also  the  southern  tiT minus  of 
the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  which  runs  thence  to  Centralia,  where, 
dividing,  one  line  tends  northward  to  Chicago,  there  striking  Lake 
Michigan,  thus  connecting  the  river  and  chain  of  great  lakes ;  the 
other  reaches  northwestwardly  striking  the  Mississippi  River  again 
at  Dunleith,  opposite  the  flourishing  city  of  Dubuque,  Iowa.  These 
lines  have  connection  writh  other  roads,  and  their  importance  for 
furnishing  transportation  of  troops  and  subsistence  for  operations  in 
the  Southwest,  can  scarcely  be  overestimated.  The  seizure  of  Cairo 
would  have  given  the  rebels  control  of  the  railway  combinations  of 
the  West,  and  would  have  closed  the  navigation  of  its  two  chief 
water  lines.  It  was,  therefore,  no  matter  of  surprise  to  Governor 
Yates  that  he  received,  on  the  29th  of  April,  the  following  dispatch 
from  the  Secretary  of  War:  "As  soon  as  enough  of  your  troops  are 
mustered  into  service,  send  a  Brigadier  General  at  or  near  Grand* 
Cairo."  The  Governor  at  once  sent  the  following  dispatch: 

"  SPIUNGFIKLD,  April  19,  1861. 
"General  Swift: 

"  As  quick  as  possible  have  as  strong  a  force  as  you  can  raise,  armed  and  equipped 
with  amunition  and  accoutrements,  and  a  company  of  artillery,  ready  to  march  at  a 
moment's  warning.  A  messenger  will  start  to  Chicago  to-night. 

"  RICHARD  YATES, 
"  Commander  in  Chief." 

"  That  means  business,"  was  the  response  when  this  dispatch  ap 
peared  in  the  newspapers,  and  business  it  was,  for  on  the  21st,  or 
only  forty-eight  hours  after  its  reception,  General  Swift  left  Chicago 
with  four  six-pounders,  and  495  men.  His  artillery  was  strength 
ened,  however,  by  Captain  Houghtaling's  battery,  of  Ottawa,  Cap 
tain  Hawley's,  of  Lockport,  Captain  McAllister's,  of  Plainfield,  and 
Captain  Carr's,  of  Sandwich,  which  went  forward  on  the  23d. 

*The  Hon.  Secretary  knew  Cairo  was  in  "Egypt,"  hence  some  confusion  of  prefix. 


THE   CAIRO   EXPEDITION.  99 

The  expedition  consisted  of  the  following  force : 

Brig.  Gen.  Swift  and  Staff 14 

Chicago  Light  Artillery,  Capt.  Smith ]  50 

Ottawa  Light  Artillery,  Capt.  Houghtaling. 86 

Lockport  Light  Artillery,  Capt,  Hawley 52 

Plainfield  Light  Artillery,  Capt.  McAllister 72 

Co.  A,  Chicago  Zouaves,  Capt.  Hayden * . . . 89 

Co.  B,  Chicago  Zouaverf,  Capt.  Clybourne ........... 83 

Capt.  Harding's  company. 80 

Turner  Union  Cadets,  Capt.  Kowald 97 

Lincoln  Rifles,  Capt.  Miholotzy 66 

Sandwich  company,  Capt.  Cart 102 

Drum  Corps. » . . . , 17 

Total 908 

To  which  was  added  Captain  Campbell's  Ottawa  Independent 
Artillery  with  about  twenty  men  and  two  six-pounder  cannon,  which 
reported  to  the  commanding  General  on  the  28th. 

This  advance  "  army  of  occupation"  and  defence  was  equipped 
after  a  fashion  not  specified  in  the  Regulations,  nor  described  in  the 
"Tactics."  It  was  a  citizen-corps,  made  up  largely  of  the  youth 
of  the  best  families  of  the  State,  and  many  of  them  were  armed  by 
a  requisition  on  their  homes  and  friends,  and  Chicago  stores. 

The  expedition  reached  Big  Muddy  Bridge,  on  the  Illinois  Central 
road,  at  5  P.M.,  on  the  22d.  Here  Captain  Hayden's  company  was 
detached  to  guard  the  bridge,  and  protect  the  road  from  straggling 
traitors.*  The  rest  went  forward,  arriving  at  Cairo  the  next  morning 
at  8  o'clock.  The  batteries,  for  which- they  had  neither  shot,  shell, 
nor  canister,  were  provided  with  slugs  hurriedly  made,  and  destined 
to  do  deadly  work  among  the  rebel  squadrons  at  Fort  Donelson. 

The  occupation  was  not  effected  a  day  too  soon.  Hard  by  were 
the  disloyal  Governors,  Claibourn  M.  Jackson,  of  Missouri,  Isham 
Harris,  of  Tennessee,  and  Beriah  McGoffin,  of  Kentucky,  who 
prated  of  neutrality.  Jackson  responded  to  the  President's  call  for 
troops  by  saying,  "  Your  requisition,  in  my  judgment,  is  illegal,  un 
constitutional  and  revolutionary  in  its  objects,  inhuman  and  diaboli* 

*  Information  having  been  received  of  an  attempt  to  barn  the  bridge  at  Big  Mud 
dy,  Gen.  Swift  detached  part  of  Company  B  Chicago  Zouaves,  under  command  of 
Lieut.  P.  N.  Guthrie,  and  one  section  of  Capt.  Smith's  Chicago  Light  ArtilleTy,  un 
der  command  of  Lieut  WiJlard,  with  instructions  to  report  to  Capt.  Hayden.  A 
section  of  Capt.  Houghtaling's  Ottawa  Light  Artillery,  was  also  ordered  to  this  bridge. 


100  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

cal  and  cannot  be  complied  with.  Not  one  man  will  tfoe  State  of 
Missouri  furnish  to  carry  on  such  an  unholy  crusade."  Harris  flung 
into  the  face  of  the  chief  magistrate  this  defiant  answer,  "  Ten- 
essee  will  not  furnish  a  single  man  for  coercion,  but  fifty  thousand, 
if  necessary,  for  the  defence  of  our  rights,  and  those  of  our  breth 
ren."  The  answer  of  Beriah  McGoffin,  who  has  the  questionable 
fame  of  having  invented  a  novel  style  of  neutrality,  bristling  north 
ward  with  bayonets  and  looking  southward  with  men  and  means, 
said :  "  In  answer,  I  say,  emphatically,  that  Kentucky  will  furnish  no 
troops  for  the  wicked  purpose  of  subduing  Southern  States  !"  The 
conscientious  care  of  Beriah,  lest  the  President  "  should  put  forth 
his  hand  into  iniquity,"  would  savor  much  of  hopeful  sanctity,  did  it 
not  so  strongly  suggest  the  ancient,  but  unseemly  role  of  Satan  as  a 
reprover !  The  precious  trio  of  Border  State  statesmen,  had  their 
emissaries  watching  this  important  river  and  railway  center,  with 
eagle  and  evil  eyes,  and  were  almost  ready  to  seize  it,  but  the  com 
mander  of  the  Union  forces,  was  swift  to  forestall  them,  and  Cairo 
became,  and  has  remained,  a  military  post  of  the  United  States. 

In  his  message  to  the  Legislature  in  extraordinary  session,  Gov* 
Yates  states  the  reasons  for  the  immediate  occupancy  of  this  point : 

"  The  transfer  of  part  of  the  volunteer  forces  of  this  State  was  made  in  compli 
ance  with  an  order  of  the  War  Department,  directing  a  force  to  be  stationed  at 
Cairo.  Simultaneously  with  the  receipt  of  the  order,  reliable  information  reached 
me  of  the  existence  of  a  conspiracy  by  disaffected  persons  in  other  States  to  seize 
upon  Cairo  and  the  southern  portion  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  and  cut  off 
communication  with  the  interior  of  the  State.  It  was  my  desire  that  the  honor  of 
this  service  should  have  been  given  to  the  patriotic  citizens  of  the  counties  in  the 
immediate  vicinity.  But  as  these  were  not  at  that  time  organized  and  armed  for 
patriotic  duty,  and  the  necessity  for  speedy  action  was  imperative,  the  requisition 
was  filled  from  companies  previously  tendered  from  other  portions  of  the  State." 

The  arrival  of  the  troops  had  its  grim  poetry  and  romance.  The 
loyalty  of  all  the  residents  of  the  city  was  not  above  suspicion,  but 
they  met  a  sudden  change  of  expression,  if  not  of  heart.  The  ra 
tionale  of  their  conversion  was  well  stated  by  a  plain  farmer  of  the 
vicinity :  "  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  them  brass  missionaries  has  con 
verted  a  heap  of  folks  that  was  on  the  anxious  seat !"  Even  so, 
and  the  government  was  to  learn  that  "  brass  pieces,"  ball  and  bay 
onet,  were  the  true  evangels  of  peace  and  the  avant  couriers  of  a 
restored  Union ! 


FIKST   BRIGADE.  101 

An  aggrieved  Kentucky  Congressman  wrote  Mr.  Lincoln  a  note 
complaining  that  Cairo  was  occupied  by  armed  troops,  and  that 
Kentucky  regarded  the  act  as  a  usurpation  and  offensive.  The 
President  replied  by  assuring  the  honorable  member  that  when  he 
ordered  the  troops  to  Cairo,  Illinois,  he  did  not  suspect  that  it  was 
included  in  a  Kentucky  Congressional  District  or  he  surely  would 
not  have  done  so !  But  he  did  not  soothe  the  ruffled  representative 
by  an  order  to  remove  the  forces. 

On  the  24th  the  seven  companies  arrived  from  Springfield,  com 
manded  by  Colonel,  afterward  Major-General  B.  M.  Prentiss,  who 
relieved  General  Swift,  and  assumed  command.  The  companies  of 
of  Harding,  Hayden  and  Clyborne  proceeded  to  Springfield  to  join 
a  regiment  then  organizing,  but  were  too  late  and  were  mustered  out 
of  service,  receiving  one  month's  pay,  allowed  them  by  act  of  the 
Legislature  then  in  extraordinary  session. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  Legislature,  six  regiments  were  or 
ganized,  and  called  the  "First  Brigade  of  Illinois  Volunteers."  These 
regiments  were  numbered,  seven,  eight,  nine,  ten,  eleven  and  twelve, 
in  respect  to  the  regiments  of  Illinois  volunteers,  that  had  served  in 
the  Mexican  war.  As  soon  as  these  forces  were  mustered,  they 
were  ordered  to  duty.  The  Seventh,  commanded  by  Colonel  Cook, 
was  mustered  into  service  at  Springfield,  April  25th  and  ordered  to 
Alton,  111.,  on  the  27th  inst. 

The  Eighth,  commanded  by  Colonel  Oglesby,  was  mustered  into 
service,  the  same  day,  and  ordered  to  Cairo  on  the  27th  inst. 

The  Ninth,  commanded  by  Colonel  Paine,  was  mustered  into  ser 
vice,  at  Springfield,  April  26th,  and  was  ordered  to  Cairo,  May  1st. 

The  Tenth,  commanded  by  Colonel  Prentiss,  with  part  of  his 
command,  was  ordered  to  Cairo,  April  22d,  and  on  the  29th  was 
mustered  into  service  at  Cairo. 

The  Eleventh,  commanded  by  Colonel  Wallace,  was  mustered  into 
service  at  Springfield,  April  30th,  and  ordered  to  Villa  Ridge,  May  5th. 

The  Twelfth,  commanded  by  Colonel  McArthur,  was  mustered  at 
Springfield,  May  2d,  and  ordered  to  Cairo,  May  10th. 

In  relation  to  the  formation  of  this  brigade,  Adjutant-General 
Fuller,  makes  the  following  interesting  remarks :  "  On  the  comple 
tion  of  the  organization  of  these  regiments  several  hundred  volun 
teers  were  left  unprovided  for.  Most  of  the  companies  arrived  in 


102  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

camp  with  over  one  hundred  men.  Seven  hundred  and  eighty,  nmk 
and  file,  was  the  maximum  allowed  by  the  War  Department,  and 
among  the  most  touching  and  painful  incidents,  indicating  the  patri 
otic  fervor  of  our  people,  at  that  time,  noticed  in  the  preparation  of 
these  troops  for  the  field,  was  the  rejection  of  these  surplus  volun 
teers.  Strong  men,  who  had  left  their  homes  at  an  hour's  notice  to 
enter  the  service  of  their  country,  wept  at  the  disappointment  of 
being  refused  admission  to  companies  on  muster  day.  Provision 
was  made  for  them  of  one  month's  pay,  and  they  filed  their  rolls 
and  were  mustered  out  of  the  service  of  the  State!" 

The  service  rendered  by  these  forces  to  the  Government,  while 
posted  at  Cairo,  can  not  be  too  highly  prized. 

One  of  the  early  doings  of  the  Cairo  garrison  was  the  stoppage 
of  the  river  trade  in  Galena  lead  and  Cincinnati  and  Louisville  dry 
goods.  Boats  were  passing  daily  with  such  stores,  designed  for 
"  Southern  trade."  In  advance  of  orders  from  Washington,  Gov 
ernor  Yates  sent  the  following  order : 

"SPRINGFIELD,  April  24,  1861. 
"  Col  R  M.  Prentiss,  Cairo  : 

"The  steamers  C  E  Hillraan  and  John  D.  Perry  are  about  to  leave  St.  Louis  with 
arms  and  munitions.  Stop  said  boats  and  seize  all  the  arms  and  munitions. 

"RICHARD  YATES, 
"Commander-in-Chief." 

On  the  evening  of  the  24th  and  morning  of  the  25th  the  steamers 
came  on,  not  suspecting  stoppage.  Col.  Prentiss  had  given  orders 
to  Capt.  Smith,  of  Chicago  Light  Artillery,  and  Capt.  Scott,  of  the 
Chicago  Zouaves  to  board  and  seize  them,  and  those  gallant  young 
officers  performed  the  work  with  a  relish,  and  the  arms  and  muni 
tions,  of  which  there  were  large  quantities,  were  seized,  and  their 
confiscation  was  subsequently  approved  at  Washington,  and  on  the 
7th  of  May  Secretary  Chase,  of  the  Treasury,  issued  a  circular  for 
bidding  shipments  to  ports  under  insurrectionary  control,  and  direct 
ing  that  all  such  shipments  should  be  stopped  at  Cairo. 

The  Legislature  passed  liberal  appropriation  bills,  that  the  State 
might  be  placed  on  a  war  footing,  and  authorized  the  creation  of  ten 
regiments  of  infantry,  one  regiment  of  cavalry  and  one  battalion 
of  light  artillery,  for  State  service.  One  of  these  might  be  organ 
ized  from  volunteer  companies  then  at  Springfield,  and  one  from  each 


SEIZURE    OF    ARMS.  103 

of  the  then  existing  nine  Congressional  districts.  -Volunteers  ac 
cepted  in  these  regiments  were  required  to  give  pledge  to  tender 
their  services  to  the  War  Department,  if  called  for.  As  soon  as 
arms  could  be  furnished,  each  regiment  was  to  be  placed  in  encamp 
ments  at  Regimental  Headquarters,  in  the  Congressional  district 
where  it  was  raised,  and  remain  in  camp  thirty  days  for  drill  and 
instruction,  unless  sooner  demanded  by  the  General  Government. 
This  act  took  effect  May  2d,  but  the  next  day  a  new  phase  was 
given. 

The  President,  without  awaiting  the  assembling  of  Congress,  made 
another  call,  this  time  for  three  years  unless  sooner  discharged,  but 
only  for  42,032  men,  of  whom  Illinois  was  to  furnish  six  regiments. 
For  some  time  the  history  is  that  of  a  persistent  effort  by  the  people 
to  place  enough  men  at  once  in  the  field,  to  march  over  all  opposition 
to  Richmond,  Montgomery,  and  Charleston,  and  on  the  part  of  the 
War  Department  to  carry  on  the  "  suppression  of  disturbances" 
with  as  little  military  array  as  possible,  with  the  fewest  number  of 
men,  and  least  possible  war  materiel.  That  there  was  loyal  deter 
mination,  we  do  not  doubt,  but  the  General-in-Chief  was  aged,  and 
Mr.  Stanton  was  not  yet  Secretary  of  War. 

At  this  point  the  reader  will  excuse  the  insertion  of  an  interesting 
episode  which  merits  a  place  in  history,  both  in  view  of  the  daring 
and  tact  of  its  performance  and  the  advantages  resulting. 

We  have  heretofore  spoken  of  the  difficulty  of  arming  the  Cairo 
expedition,  and  the  same  difficulty  was  anticipated  in  reference  to 
the  ten  regiments  called,  at  first,  into  the  State  service.  A  messen 
ger  was  sent  to  Washington  City  to  procure  arms,  who  returned,  in 
the  latter  part  of  April,  with  an  order  from  the  Secretary  of  War 
for  10,000  of  the  muskets  in  the  arsenal  at  St.  Louis.  At  that  time 
the  arsenal  at  St.  Louis  was  closely  watched  by  secession  spies,  and 
a  mob  of  secessionists  were  ready  to  seize  the  arms  the  moment  an 
attempt  should  be  made  to  remove  them.  The  question  was,  who 
will  undertake  the  hazardous  enterprise,  and  how  can  it  be  mad  . 
successful?  Captain  James  II.  Stokes,  of  Chicago,  volunteered  to 
undertake  the  perilous  mission.  Gov.  Yates  placed  in  his  hands  the 
requisition  of  the  Secretary  of  War  for  10,000  muskets.  Captain 
Stokes  proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  and  made  his  way  as  rapidly  as  possi 
ble  to  the  arsenal.  He  found  it  surrounded  by  an  immense  mob, 


PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

and  the  postern  gates  closed.  His  utmost  efforts  to  penetrate  the 
crowd  were  for  a  long  time  unavailing.  The  requisition  was  shown 
to  the  commander  of  the  arsenal.  Captain  Lyon  doubted  the  possi 
bility  of  executing  it.  He  said  the  arsenal  was  surrounded  by  a 
thousand  spies,  and  every  movement  was  watched  and  reported  to 
the  headquarters  of  the  Secessionists,  who  could  throw  an  overpow 
ering  force  upon  them  at  any  moment.  Captain  Stokes  stated  that 
every  hour's  delay  was  rendering  the  capture  of  the  arsenal  more 
certain,  and  that  the  arms  must  be  moved  to  Illinois  now  or  never. 
Major  Callender  agreed  with  him,  and  told  him  to  take  them  at  his 
own  time  and  in  his  own  way.  This  was  Wednesday  night,  24th 
of  April. 

Captain  Stokes  had  a  spy  in  the  camp  whom  he  met  at  intervals  in 
the  city.  On  Thursday  lie  received  information  that  Gov.  Jackson 
had  ordered  two  thousand  armed  men  down  from  Jefferson  City, 
whose  movements  could  only  contemplate  a  seizure  of  the  arsenal 
by  occupying  the  heights  around  it,  and  planting  batteries  thereon. 
The  undertaking  would  have  been  an  easy  one.  His  friends  had 
already  planted  one  battery  on  the  St.  Louis  levee,  and  another  at 
Powder  Point,  a  short  distance  below  the  arsenal.  Captain  Stokes 
immediately  telegraphed  to  Alton  to  have  the  steamer  City  of  Alton 
drop  down  the  river  to  the  arsenal,  and  to  land  there  about  midnight. 
He  then  returned  to  the  arsenal,  and  commenced  moving  the  boxes 
of  guns,  weighing  some  three  hundred  pounds  each,  down  to  the 
lower  floor. 

About  700  men  were  employed  in  the  work.  He  then  took  500 
Kentucky  flint-lock  muskets,  brought  there  to  be  altered,  and  sent  them 
to  be  placed  on  a  steamer  as  a  blind  to  cover  his  real  movements. 
The  Secessionists  seized  the  muskets  at  once,  and  raised  a  perfect 
shout  of  joy  over  the  capture.  A  large  portion  of  the  outside  crowd 
left  the  arsenal  when  this  movement  was  executed;  and  Captain 
Lyon  took  the  remainder,  who  were  lying  around  as  spies,  and 
locked  them  up  in  the  guard-house.  About  11  o'clock  the  steamer 
City  of  Alton  came  along  side,  planks  were  run  from  the  win 
dows  to  the  main  deck,  and  the  boxes  were  shoved  down  into  the 
:boat.  When  10,000  were  safely  on  board,  Captain  Stokes  went  to 
Captain  Lyon  and  Major  Callender,  and  urged  them,  by  the  most 
pressing  appeals,  to  let  him  empty  the  arsenal.  They  told  him  to  go 


STRAIGHT   TO   ALTON.  105 

ahead  and  take  whatever  he  wanted.  Accordingly,  he  took  10,000 
more  muskets,  500  new  rifle  carbines,  500  revolvers,  110,000  musket 
cartridges,  to  say  nothing  of  the  cannon,  and  a  large  quantity  of 
miscellaneous  accoutrements,  leaving  only  7,000  muskets  in  the  arse 
nal  to  arm  the  St.  Louis  volunteers. 

When  the  whole  were  on  board,  about  two  o'clock  on  Friday 
morning,  the  order  was  given  by  the  captain  of  the  steamer  to  cast 
off.  Judge  of  the  consternation  of  all  hands  when  it  was  found  that 
the  boat  could  not  be  moved.  The  arms  had  been  piled  in  great 
quantities  around  the  engines  to  protect  them  against  the  battery  on 
the  levee,  and  the  great  weight  had  fastened  the  bow  of  the  boat 
firmly  on  a  rock,  which  was  crushing  through  the  bottom  at  every 
turn  of  the  wheels.  A  man  of  less  nerve  than  Captain  Stokes  would 
have  despaired.  He  called  the  men  from  the  arsenal  on  board,  and 
commenced  moving  the  boxes  to  the  stern.  Fortunately,  when 
about  two  hundred  had  been  shifted,  the  boat  fell  away  from  the 
shore  and  floated  in  deep  water. 

"Which  way?"  said  Captain  Mitchell,  of  the  steamer.  "Straight 
to  Alton,  in  the  regular  channel,"  replied  Captain  Stokes.  "  What 
if  we  are  attacked  ?"  said  Captain  Mitchell.  "  Then  we  will  fight," 
was  the  reply  of  Captain  Stokes.  "  What  if  we  are  overpowered  ?" 
said  Mitchell.  "  Run  the  boat  to  the  deepest  part  of  the  river  and 
sink  her,"  replied  Stokes.  "  I'll  do  it,"  was  the  heroic  answer  of 
Mitchell ;  and  away  they  went  past  the  secession  battery,  past  the 
entire  St.  Louis  levee,  and  in  the  regular  channel  on  to  Alton, 
where  they  arrived  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

When  the  boat  touched  the  landing,  Captain  Stokes,  fearing  pur 
suit  by  some  of  the  secession  military  companies  by  which  the  city 
of  St.  Louis  was  disgraced,  ran  to  the  market  house  and  rang  the 
fire-bell.  The  citizens  came  flocking  pell-mell  to  the  river,  in  all 
sorts  of  habiliments.  Captain  Stokes  informed  them  as  to  the  state 
of  affairs,  and  pointed  out  the  freight  cars.  Instantly,  men,  women, 
and  children  boarded  the  steamer,  seized  the  freight,  and  clambered 
up  the  levee  to  the  cars.  Rich  and  poor  tugged  together  with 
"  might  and  main"  for  two  hours,  when  the  cargo  was  all  deposited 
in  the  cars,  and  then  the  train  moved  off  for  Springfield  amid  the 
most  enthusiastic  cheers ! 


GHAPTEE    VI. 

THE  STATE  AUTHORITIES  AND  WAR  DEPARTMENT. 

Six  REGIMENTS  WANTED — Two  HUNDRED  COMPANIES  OFFERED — SELECTION — REGI 
MENTAL  HEAD-QUARTERS — CAVALRY  DECLINED — SECRETARIAL  WET  BLANKET — MES 
SENGER  TO  WASHINGTON — FOUR  ADDITIONAL  REGIMENTS  ACCEPTED— RECLAIMING 
ENLISTED  MEN — THE  COLONELS— "FORAGING  STOPPED" — "Go  TO  YOUR  CONSUL" — 
CORRESPONDENCE  BETWEEN  GOVERNOR  YATES  AND  MR.  CAMERON — AFTER  BULL  RUN 
AND  WILSON'S  CREEK — AT  LAST — CAVALRY — TEN  COMPANIES — THIRTEEN  REGIMENTS 
— ARTILLERY — INFANTRY  REGIMENTS — ENLISTING  AGAIN  STOPPED — ILLINOIS  AND  SIS 
TER  STATES. 

ILLINOIS  was  permitted  only  to  furnish  six  regiments,  and  two 
hundred  companies  were  contending  for  acceptance,  as  zealously 
as  ever  knightly  chieftains  pressed  for  the  privilege  of  leading  the  van. 
The  task  of  selection  was  delicate  and  painful,  but  was  promptly 
performed  by  the  sixth  of  May,  and  the  regiments  ordered  into 
camp  in  their  respective  Congressional  districts,  at  the  dates  and 
places  given  below: 

1st  District,  at  Freeport,  May  llth;  2d,  at  Dixon,  May  9th;  3d, 
at  Joliet,  May  llth;  4th,  at  Peoria,  May  13th;  5th,  at  Qirincy,  May 
9th;  6th,  at  Jacksonville,  May  llth;  7th,  at  Mattoon,  May  9th  ;  8th, 
at  Belleville,  May  llth;  9th,  at  Anna,  May  16th;  and  the  regiment 
from  the  State  at  large,  made  up  in  part  of  regiments  at  Springfield, 
was  ordered  to  rendezvous  at  Chicago  June  13th. 

The  State  authorities  then  tendered  the  War  Department  ten 
regiments  of  infantry,  one  of  cavalry,  and  a  battalion  of  artillery, 
and  urged  their  acceptance.  But  the  War  Department  was  not  yet 
ready  to  abandon  all  its  ideas  of  a  short  and  easy  campaign,  and 
possibly  in  some  other  departments,  there  was  the  dream  of  a  war 
terminated  in  ninety  days  by  brilliant  charges  of  rhetoric. 

The  venerable  chieftain,  Lieut. -Gen.   Scott,  the  hero  of  many  a 


THE   WAR    DEPARTMENT    POLICY.  107 

well-won  field,  was  opposed  to  the  employment  of  any  considerable 
cavalry  force.  Its  importance  was  to  be  demonstrated  in  the  near 
future. 

May  3d  the  Governor  received  this  dispatch : 

"Governor  Yates: 

"  In  reply  to  yours  of  the  2d,  I  am  again  obliged,  at  the  solicitation  of  Lieut- 
General  Scott,  to  decline  acceptance  of  cavalry.  Adjutant-General  Thomas  is  clear 
in  his  opinion  that  they  cannot  be  of  service  adequate  to  the  expense  incurred  in 
accepting  them. 

"  SIMON  CAMERON, 
"Secretary  of  War." 

On  the  15th,  the  expectant  regiments  were  tantalized  by  another 
dispatch  indicating  the  supremacy  of  the  minifying  policy,  and  the 
fatal  dream,  to  be  broken  by  the  thunders  of  Bull  Run,  that  there 
was  simply  a  disturbance  to  be  quieted.  This  is  the  dispatch : 

rt  Governor  Yates : 

"The  quota  of  troops  from  your  State  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  under 
the  second  call  of  the  President,  is  six  regiments.  *  *  *  As  soon  aa 
the  regiments  are  ready,  the  mustering  officer  sent  to  your  State  will  muster  them 
into  service,  who  has  been  instructed  to  do  so." 

Six  only!  A  few  days  later  came  a  letter,  dated  the  16th,  from, 
what  the  people,  heart-sore  with  their  disappointments,  began  to 
consider  the  Peace  Department,  in  which  Mr.  Cameron  more  effect 
ually  than  ever  before  placed  the  wet  blanket  upon  the  popular  en 
thusiasm.  It  ran  thus : 

"It  is  important  to  reduce  rather  than  increase  this  number,  and,  in  no  event,  to 
exceed  it.  Let  me  earnestly  recommend  to  you,  therefore,  to  call  for  no  more  than 
twelve  regiments,  of  which  six  only  are  to  serve  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war, 
and  if  more  are  called  for,  to  reduce  the  number  by  discharge." 

A  messenger  was  at  once  dispatched  to  Washington  to  urge  upon 
the  Department  the  importance  of  accepting  the  remaining  four  reg 
iments.  They  were  already  in  camp,  and  some  of  them  had  acquired 
much  proficiency  in  drill,  and  to  disband  and  send  them  home  was  to 
disgust  them  with  the  service,  and  to  weaken  public  confidence  in 
the  wisdom  and  earnestness  of  the  Government.  The  public  saw 
that  more  men  were  needed,  and  it  could  see  no  reason  why  the 
same  conclusion  did  not  force  itself  upon  the  Government  when  the 
rebel  flag  was  visible  from  the  Executive  Mansion. 


108  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

The  four  regiments  were  finally  accepted  and  an  arrangement 
made  by  which  the  seventh,  eighth,  ninth,  tenth,  and  eleventh,  three 
months'  men,  might  enlist  for  three  years,  four-fifths  of  each  regiment 
concurring,  an  offer  which  those  regiments,  weakened  by  disease, 
bad  clothing  and  the  vicissitudes  of  climate,  declined,  and  of  4,680 
men  only  about  2,000  re-enlisted  at  the  expiration  of  their  term  the 
July  following. 

The  policy  so  long  persistently  pursued  by  the  War  Department 
began  to  produce  its  results.  Adjutant- General  Fuller  thus  states 
them  in  his  report  to  the  Governor : 

"  The  refusal  on  the  part  of  the  Secretary  of  War  to  authorize  yon  to  accept 
more  troops  caused  several  thousand  of  our  best  and  impatient  volunteers  to  leave 
this  State  in  May,  June  and  July,  and  enlist  elsewhere.  Denied  the  privilege  of 
serving  their  country  in  regiments  from  their  own  State  they  sought  other  fields  of 
usefulness.  Many  whole  companies  entered  Missouri  regiments,  and  are  now  in  the 
service.  From  correspondence  with  many  of  these  so-called  Missouri  regiments, 
and  from  estimates  made  by  those  whose  opinion  is  entitled  to  credit,  I  have  no 
doubt  more  than  ten  thousand  Illinoisans  left  their  own  State  and  enlisted  in  regi 
ments  of  other  States. 

"In  several  cases  application  has  been  made  to  you  to  have  regiments,  a  larste  ma 
jority  of  which  consisted  of  Illinoisans,  recognized  as  Illinois  regiments.  To  provide 
for  these  cases  the  War  Department,  on  the  21st  of  February  last,  decided  that 
'  whenever  a  regiment  is  composed  of  companies  from  different  states,  it  will  be 
considered  as  belonging  to  the  state  from  which  the  greatest  number  of  companies 
was  furnished  for  that  regiment.'  Under  this  order  the  59th  regiment,  formerly  9th 
Missouri,  and  the  66th,  formerly  known  as  'Birge's  Sharp  Shooters,'  have  been  re 
claimed,  and  other  similar  applications  are  now  pending." 

As  we  read  the  paragraph  given  below  from  the  same  document, 
we  seem  to  be  perusing  the  records  of  days  long  gone  by,  the  annals 
of  another  era,  so  rapidly,  and  on  a  scale  of  such  magnitude,  has  his 
tory  been  made : 

"The  18th  regiment  was  mustered  at  Dixon,  July  24th,  under  Col.  Wyman;  the 
14th,  at  Jacksonville,  on  the  25th,  under  Col.  Palmer;  the  15th,  at  Freeport,  May 
24th,  under  Col.  Turner;  the  16th,  at  Quincy,  May  24th,  under  Col.  Smith;  the  17th, 
atPeoria,  May  24th,  under  Col.  Ross;  the  18th,  at  Anna,  May  28th,  under  Col. 
Lawler;  the  19th,  at  Chicago,  June  17th,  under  Col.  Tux-chin;  the  20th,  at  Joliet, 
June  13th,  under  Col.  Marsh;  the  21st,  at  Mattoon,  June  15th,  under  Col.  Grant; 
and  the  22d,  at  Belleville,  June  25th,  under  Col.  Dougherty." 

Wyman  "  sleeps  the  last  sleep"  in  his  soldier-grave  ;  Palmer  has 
bravely  won  and  nobly  wears  his  double  stars ;  Ross  received  his 


FORAGING  FORBIDDEN.  109 

Well  merited  promotion ;  Turchin,  now  out  of  the  service,  belier- 
ing  from  the  outset  that  his  men  should  be  "subsisted7'  in  the 
enemy's  country,  in  the  days  when  tender-footed  surperiors  were 
afraid  of  "  exasperating  their  Southern  brethren,"  and  orders  had 
been  issued  to  Stop  foraging,  came,  one  day,  upon  his  men  busy  in  a 
secessionist's  potato  field.  The  General  raised  himself  in  his  stir 
rups  and  shouted :  "  Boys,  what  does  this  mean  ?  Foraging  is  for 
bidden.  If  you  don't  quit,  I  will  put  a  guard  on  this  potato  patch 
in  just  two  hours  from  this  time"  Of  course,  prior  to  the  set  time, 
the  boys  had  "quit,"  and  foraging  had  "stopped."  Seated,  on 
another  occasion,  in  his  tent,  a  secession  Tennesseean  approached 
him  and  said,  "  Colonel,  some  of  your  men  has  stole  my  horse." 
"Are  you  a  citizen  of  the  United  States?"  "Wall,  no,  Colonel,  not 
adzackly.  You  see — "  "Go  away  with  you,  and  see  your  Consul 
then,  and  get  him  to  attend  to  your  business.  I  am  not  out  collect 
ing  for  aliens." 

And  there,  too,  was  "  Col.  Grant,"  a  quiet  man,  who  did  little 
talking,  but  accomplished  a  great  deal  of  work — he  has  been  heard 
of  elsewhere. 

The  report  of  correspondence  between  the  He  ad- Quarters  at 
Springfield  and  the  War  Department,  indicates  a  gradual  change  in 
the  policy  of  the  latter.  We  copy  from  the  report  of  the  Governor 
to  the  Constitutional  Convention  on  the  6th  of  February,  1862  : 

"  The  number  of  troops  far  exceeded  the  quota  which  the  Government  was  willing 
to  accept,  and,  as  the  character  of  the  rebellion  became  more  formidable,  this 
pressure  became  so  great  as  to  induce  me,  on  the  23d  of  July,  1861,  to  send  the 
Secretary  of  War  the  following  communication: 

"  '•Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  /Secretary  of  War : 

"  '  SIR:  Being  advised  that  you  are  receiving  tenders  of  additional  troops,  I  desire 
to  tender  you,  for  Illinois,  thirteen  additional  regiments  of  infantry,  three  additional 
regiments  of  caValry,  and  one  additional  battalion  of  light  artillery.  Illinois  de 
mands  her  right  to  do  her  full  share  in  the  work  of  preserving  our  glorious  Union 
from  the  assaults  of  high-handed  rebellion,  and  I  insist  that  you  respond  favorably 
to  the  call  which  I  have  made.  Respectfully  yours, 

"  *  RICHARD  YATES.' 

"On  the  28th  of  July,  1861,  I  received  the  following  reply  by  telegraph: 
<" Governor  Yates  : 

"  'Will  accept  the  thirteen  additional  infantry  regiments,  three  additional  cavalry 


110  PATRIOTISM  OP   ILLINOIS. 

regiments,  and  an  additional  light  artillery  battalion.     If  you  so  desire  you  can  pro* 
vide  for  and  equip  those  regiments,  if  you  can  do  so,  at  once.     Will  write  to-day. 

"  '  SIMON  CAMERON, 
"'Secretary  of  War."' 

[The  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  War  is  omitted,  being  merely  an  expansion  of  the 
telegram.] 

"About  the  12th  of  August  I  received  the  following  letter  from  the  War  Depart 
ment  in  reference  to  arming  and  equipping  the  McClernand  Brigade : 

"  '•His  Excellency,  Richard  Yates,  Governor  of  Illinois  : 

"  'Please  afford  to  Brigadier-General  John  A.  McClernand  all  the  facilities  in  your 
power  for  arming  and  equipping  his  brigade  at  the  earliest  date  possible. 

"  '  Very  respectfully,  THOS.  A.  SCOTT, 

"  'Acting  Secretary  of  War.* 

'  The  thirteen  additional  regiments  having  been  filled  up,  and  the  people  of  the 
State,  as  one  man,  humiliated  at  the  disastrous  defeat  at  Bull  Run,  on  the  21st  of 
July,  were  pressing  upon  me  for  acceptance ;  and  on  the  7th  of  August  I  wrote  to 
the  Secretary  of  War  as  follows : 

"  'I  would  suggest  whether  it  would  not  be  well  to  receive  all  the  full  companies 
Which  will  report  themselves  full  in  the  next  twenty  days. 

"  'The  signs  are  that  we  shall  need  them,  as  it  will  stop  the  application  to  you  for 
independent  regiments.' 

"On  the  13th  of  the  same  month  the  brave  Lyon  fell,  and  on  the  same  day  1 
received  the  following  dispatches: 

"  'HEAD-QUARTERS  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT,  ST.  Louis,  Aug.  13,  1861. 
"  ' Governor  Yates  : 

"  '  Severe  engagement  near  Springfield  reported.  Gen.  Lyon  killed.  Sigel  re 
treating  in  good  order  on  Rolla.  Send  forthwith  all  the  disposable  force  you  have, 
arming  as  you  best  can  for  the  moment  Use  utmost  dispatch. 

"  'JOHN  C.  FREMONT, 
"'Maj.-Gen.  Commanding.' 

"  'WASHINGTON,  Aug.  13,  1861. 
"  'ffis  Excellency,  Gov.  Yates  : 

"  'What  number  of  regiments  have  you  now  organized,  and  what  number  can  be 
organized  ready  for  marching  orders  this  week  ?  Please  advise  by  telegraph. 

"  '  SIMON  CAMERON, 
"'Secretary   of   War.' 

"  On  the  same  day  I  telegraphed  the  Secretary  of  War  as  follows : 

"  '  I  have  had  to  confine  myself,  in  raising  the  thirteen  regiments  you  authorized 
me  to  raise,  to  the  acceptance  of  companies  first  tendered. 


CAVALRY.  Ill 

"  'I  have  telegraphed  your  Department  repeatedly  for  authority  to  accept  all  the 
troops  offered,  but  have  received  no  answer  to  ray  dispatches.  I  think  you  ought  to 
give  me  authority  to  accept  all  the  troops  willing  to  enter  the  service.' 

'"WASHINGTON,  Aug.  14,  1861, 
"  'Governor  Yates: 

"  'You  are  authorized  to  accept  all  companies  of  troops  willing  to  enter  the  ser* 
vice.  We  shall  accept  no  more  independent  regiments  from  Illinois.  Many  thanks 
for  your  promptness  and  energy. 

"  '  SIMON  CAMERON, 
"  '  Secretary   of  War.'  " 

At  last !  After  Bull  Run  and  Wilson's  Creek,  after  Lyon  has 
been  slain,  with  the  national  capital  in  peril,  with  Fremont's  com 
mand  confronted  with  a  superior  force — at  last  it  realized  that  some 
thing  more  than  the  suppression  of  a  disturbance  is  demanded,  and 
the  people  have  authority  to  rally  to  the  support  and  for  the  salva 
tion  of  the  Government.  Thank  God  for  that  much  !  It  gave  new 
heart  to  the  people. 

These  paragraphs  have  anticipated  somewhat  the  course  of  events, 
but  have  seemed  necessary  to  preserve  the  unity  and  completion  of 
the  topic  of  the  State  policy  in  enlistments. 

We  have  recorded  the  unwillingness  of  the  War  Department  to 
receive  cavalry,  a  repugnance  based  on  the  advice  of  General  Scott, 
yet  the  Legislature,  in  special  session,  authorized  the  formation  of 
a  cavalry  regiment,  and  it  was  organized  by  the  acceptance  of  com* 
panies  under  the  provisions  of  the  act.  Before  the  passage  of  the 
law,  the  Chicago  Dragoons,  commanded  by  Captain  Charles  W. 
Barker,  and  the  Washington  Light  Cavalry,  Captain  Fredrick 
Sohombeck,  had  reported  at  Camp  Yates,  and  were  now  mustered 
into  the  State  service.  On  the  tenth  of  May  three  companies  were 
accepted  from  the  counties  south  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Rail 
road,  named  and  commanded  as  follows :  White  County  Cavalry, 
Capt.  Orlando  Burrell ;  Gallatin  County  Cavalry,  Capt.  James  Fos 
ter  ;  Centralia  Cavalry,  Capt.  R.  D.  Noleman. 

The  State  authorities,  considering  five  companies  sufficient  for 
State  service,  declined  completing  the  regiment,  though  the  other 
companies  were  ready  and  were  designated  in  the  special  order  of 
May  16th;  viz.,  Companies  of  Capt.  John  McNulta,  of  Bloomington ; 
Capt.  A.  C.  Harding,  Monmouth ;  Capt.  John  Burnap,  Springfield ; 
Capt.  J.  B.  Smith,  Knoxville ;  Capt.  Paul  Walters,  Hillsboro. 


112  PATKlOflSM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

On  the  21st  of  June  the  proffer  of  ten  companies  of  cavalry 
accepted  by  the  President,  for  three  years'  service,  unless  sooner' 
discharged,  and  the  companies  accepted  were  assigned  by  the  Gov 
ernor  to  make  up  the  "  First  Regiment  of  Illinois  Cavalry."  The 
Chicago  Dragoons  had  been  ordered  to  Cairo,  and  from  thence  were 
transferred,  by  order  of  General  McClellan,  to  his  command  in 
Western  Virginia,  but  declining  to  enlist  for  three  years  they  were 
mustered  out  of  service.  They  were  subsequently  reorganized  un 
der  command  of  Capt.  Shearer,  and  with  another  company  were 
known  as  the  "McClellan  Dragoons."  They  were  for  a  time  at 
tached  to  a  regiment  of  Regulars,  and  since  then  they  have  been 
assigned  to  Col.  Voss'  12th  Cavalry.  Seven  companies  of  this  regi 
ment  were  with  Mulligan  at  Lexington,  Mo.,  and  shared  the  captiv 
ity  of  that  officer ;  they  were,  by  order  of  the  Major- General 
commanding  the  Department  of  the  West,  mustered  out  of  service 
Oct.  8,  1861,  were  reinstated  Dec.  21st,  by  order  of  the  President, 
and  reorganized  at  Benton  Barracks,  St.  Louis,  but  continued  in 
service  but  a  short  time,  in  consequence  of  difficulties  arising  from 
irregularity  of  exchange.  Capt.  Oscar  Huntley's  company,  raised 
in  Winnebago  county,  by  authority  of  General  Fremont,  was  as* 
signed  to  the  first  regiment  at  its  reorganization  at  Benton  Barracks, 
but  not  having  been  captured  was  not  mustered  out.  In  May,  June 
and  July,  the  8th,  9th  and  llth  cavalry  were  authorized  by  General 
Fremont,  commanded  respectively  by  Col.  Farnsworth,  Col.  Brackett 
and  Col.  Ingersoll ;  under  the  call  of  the  President,  the  2d,  Col, 
Noble,  and  the  4th,  Col.  Dickey,  were  organized;  under  the  dis 
patch  of  July  25th,  from  Secretary  Cameron,  the  3d,  Col.  Carr, 
7th,  Col.  Kellogg,  and  6th,  Col.  Cavanaugh,  were  raised  and 
accepted.  August,  the  5th,  Col.  Updegraff,  was  accepted,  and 
on  the  5th  of  September  the  10th,  Col.  Barrett,  on  the  28th,  the 
12th,  Col.  Voss,  on  the  27th  of  November  the  13th,  Col.  Bell 
These  last  were  limited  to  two  battalions  of  four  companies  each ; 
and  in  the  last  named,  a  battalion  raised  by  Lt.-Col.  Hartman  under 
authority  from  the  War  Department  was  to  constitute  a  part. 

In  addition  to  the  thirteen  regiments  of  cavalry  authorized  as 
above  stated,  several  additional  battalions  and  companies  were  or 
ganized.  With  the  approval  of  General  Smith,  Capt.  Marx  re 
cruited  a  company  for  Thietman's  battalion,  and  Thielman  waa 


TROOPS — THEIR  CHARACTER.  113 

Commissioned  as  Major,  with  rank  from  Nov.  1,  1861,  his  com 
mand  being  his  own  company,  nominally  attached  to  the  1st  regi 
ment,  commanded  by  Capt.  Marschner,  and  Capt.  Marx's  company. 
By  authority  of  General  Fremont,  Capt.  Warren  Stuart  recruited  a 
company.  Four  companies  were  raised  in  connection  with  the  27th, 
28th,  29th,  30th,  and  31st  regiments  (Gen.  McClernand's  brigade), 
^commanded  by  Captains  Hutchens,  Carmikel,  O'Harnett,  and  Dol- 
lins.  These  companies,  with  Captain  Stewart's,  were  subsequently 
formed  into  a  battalion,  and  Captain  Ste  \vart  commissioned  as  Ma 
jor,  to  rank  from  Feb.  2,  1862,  became  its  commander.  Captain 
MciSTaughten  raised  a  company  under  authority  from  General  Fre 
mont,  designed  to  be  attached  to  the  23d  regiment,  but  aftor  the 
battle  of  Lexington  it  was  attached  to  a  Missouri  regiment  known 
as  "  The  Curtis'  Horse."  The  "  Kane  County  Cavalry,"  Captain 
Dodson,  was  raised  for  the  2d  cavalry,  but  was  ultimately  attached 
to  the  15th.  Thus  it  is  seen  that  before  the  close  of  1861  Illinois 
had  placed  in  the  field,  almost  in  spite  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  a 
small  army  of  cavalry — brave  horsemen,  ready  for  active  service. 

It  was  soon  seen  that  any  number  of  men  could  be  secured  for 
the  artillery  service.  It  has  its  peculiar  perils  and  hardships,  but 
with  all  that  it  has  strange  fascination.  Company  A,  Chicago  Ar 
tillery,  Capt.  Smith  (afterwards  Willard),  Capt.  Houghtaling's  Ot 
tawa  Artillery,  and  Capt.  McCallister's,  Plainfield,  formed,  as  we 
have  seen,  part  of  the  Cairo  expedition  under  Brig.-Gen.  Swift. 
They  all  remained  in  the  service,  being  mustered  first  into  the  three 
months'  and  then  into  the  three  years'  service.  Also  Co.  B,  Chi 
cago  Artillery,  Capt.  Taylor;  Peoria  Artillery,  Capt.  Davidson; 
Capt.  Campbell's  Ottawa  battery,  and  CarH.  Madison's  battery  were 
mustered  in  under  the  law  of  the  special  session  of  May,  1861. 

Of  these  more  will  be  heard  as  we  thread  the  red-line  of  battles 
fought  for  the  Republic.  In  them  were  such  young  men  as  seldom 
ever  before  stood  by  the  recoiling  piece,  all  begrimed  with  powder, 
amid  the  thunders  of  battle  or  of  siege. 

May,  June  and  July  brought  the  authorization  of  the  following 
t-egiments  of  infantry,  most  of  whom  have  since  made  a  brilliant 
record:  23d,  Col.  Mulligan;  24th,  Col.  Hecker;  25th,  Col.  Coler; 
33d,  Col.  Hovey ;  34th,  Col.  Kirk;  35th,  Col.  Smith;  36th,  Col. 

37th,  Col.  White;    39th,  OL  Lighte;    40th,  Col.  Hicks; 
8 


114:  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

41st,  Col.  Pugh;  42d,  Col.  Webb ;  44th,  Col.  Knoblesdorf;  45th, 
Col.  Smith;  47th,  Col.  Bryner;  52d,  Col.  Wilson;  55th,  Col.  Stuart. 
Under  the  authority  of  Secretary  Cameron's  letter  of  July  25th  the 
the  State  reported  the  following  infantry  regiments  :  26th,  CoL 
Loomis;  27th,  Col.  Buforcl;  28th,  Col.  Johnson;  29th,  Col.  Rear- 
don;  30th,  Col.  Foulke;  31st,  Col.  John  Logan;  32d,  Col.  John  A. 
Logan;  38th,  Col.  Caiiin ;  43d,  Col.  Raith;  46th,  Col.  Davis;  48th, 
Col.  Haynie;  49th,  Col.  Morrison;  50th,  Col.  Bane.  As  has  been 
seen,  in  response  to  an  application  of  the  Governor,  made  August 
13th,  all  restriction  upon  infantry  recruiting  was  removed,  and  the 
State  was  permitted  to  accept  all  that  offered  their  services.  The  fol 
lowing  regiments  were  authorized:  56th,  Col.  Kirkham;  61st,  Col. 
Fry;  64th,  Lt.-Col.  Williams;*  65th,  Col.  Cameron;  51st,  CoL 
Ciimmbgs ;  53d,  Col.  Cushman;f  58th,  Col.  Lynch;  57th,  Col- 
Baldwin;  54th,  Col.  Harris;  60th,  Col.  Toler  ;  62d,  Col.  True  ;  63d, 
Col.  WoocLJ 

In  addition  to  the  above,  most  of  the  companies  for  an  additional 
regiment  of  artillery  had  been  raised.  On  the  3d  of  December  the 
authorities  at  Washington  again  became  nlarmed  at  the  fore-cast 
shadow  of  too  large  an  army,  and  issued  the  annexed  order: 

"HE  AD -QUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY,  AnJUTANT-GENERAL's  OFFICE, 

"Washington,  December  3,  1861. 
"General  Orders,  No,  105. 

"The  following  orders  have  been  received  from  the  Secretary  of  War: 

"I.  No  more  regiments,  batteries,  or  independent  companies  will  be  raised  by 
the  Governors  of  States,  except  upon  the  special  requisition  of  the  War  Department. 

"Those  now  forming  in  the  various  States  will  be  completed,  under  direction  of 
the  respective  Governors  thereof,  unless  it  be  deemed  more  advantageous  to  the 
service  to  assign  the  men  already  raised  to  regiments,  batteries  or  independent  com 
panies  now  in  the  field,  in  order  to  fill  up  their  organizations  to  the  maximum  stand 
ard  prescribed  by  law. 

"  II.  The  recruiting  service  in  the  various  States  for  the  volunteer  forces  already 
in  service,  and  for  those  that  may  hereafter  be  received,  is  placed  under  charge  of 
general  superintendents  for  those  States,  respectively,  with  general  depots  for  the 
collection  and  instruction  of  recruits." 

•*Battalion  of  six  companies  known  as  Yates'  Sharp-Shooters, 
-{•Including  squadron  of  cavalry  and  battery  of  artillery. 
JKnown  as  the  Kentucky  Brigade* 


POPULAR   ABDOK.  115 

Of  course  recruiting  was  suspended,  but  already  the  State  had 
*nade  a  record.  Pressing  her  claims  to  replenish  the  armies  of  the 
country  upon  a  slow  War  Department  over  discouragements  and 
rebuffs,  she  had  sent  to  the  field,  not  merely  enlisted,  more  than 
43,000  men  besides  the  six  months'  regiments,  and  had>  at  the  close 
of  the  year,  in  camps  of  instruction,  17,000  more.  "During  the 
month  of  December,"  says  the  Adjutant-General,  "4160  more  re 
cruits  were  enlisted ;  all  squads  and  parts  of  regiments  were  consol 
idated,  and  the  45th,  46thf  49th  and  57th,  were  organized  and 
mustered  into  service.  The  only  incomplete  regiments  of  infantry 
in  the  State,  December  31st,  were  the  51st,  Col.  Cummings,  at 
Camp  Douglas;  the  53d,  Col.  Cushman,  at  Ottawa;  the  58th,  Col. 
Lynch,  at  Camp  Douglas ;  the  23d,  Col.  Mulligan,  at  Camp  Douglas, 
reorganizing,  and  four  regiments  at  Jonesboro',  viz.-,  54th,  60th,  62d 
and  63d." 

The  people  would  have  placed  one  hundred  thousand  men  in  the 
field  between  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter  and  the  31st  of  Decem 
ber,  if  the  general  government  would  have  received  them. 

It  is  not  claimed  that  Illinois  was  in  advance  of  her  sister  states 
of  the  West  in  devotion  to  the  country,  but  that  she  was  their 
Worthy  compeer,  yielding  to  none  in  patriotic  regard  and  attesting 
her  faith  by  her  works,  by  the  freely  shed  blood  of  her  sons. 


OHAPTEE    VII. 

THE  STATE  AND  THE  ARMY.— 61  TO  64. 

THE  NEW  YEAR — THE  SITUATION — SOBER  TIEWS — THE  "CAUSE"  TO  PERISH — CARPED 
KNIGHTS — AHEAD  OP  ALL  CALLS — OTHER  REGIMENTS — To  FILL  OLD  REGIMENTS — 
SPECIAL  SERVICE — "  WASHINGTON  IN  DANGER  " — A  TIME  OF  GLOOM — TENDER-FOOTED' 
COMMANDERS — THE  INEVITABLE  NEGRO — FREMONT  AND  HUNTER — WAR  IN  EARN 
EST — NEW  CALL— GOVERNOR'S  PROCLAMATION— LETTER  TO  THE  PRESIDENT — THE 
OLD  SCORE — No  DRAFT — A  CREDIT  DECLINED — Two  YEARS'  WORK — A  SHOCK  TO' 
STATE  PRIDE — THE  LEGISLATURE  OF  1863-4 — ITS  RESPONSIBILITIES — GOVERNOR'S 
RECOMMENDATIONS — NEGLECT  OF  GRAVE  BUSINESS — A  SUDDEN  PROROGATION — "  PRO 
FANE  HISTORY" — A  BETTER  RECORD — GOVERNOR'S  PROCLAMATION  FEB.  B,  1864 — 
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  REPORT  OF  FEB.  1,  1864. 

EIGHTEEN  HUNDRED  AND  SIXTY-THREE  came,  and 
peace  was  not  restored,  but  seemed  farther  off  than  ever.  Among 
the  mountains  of  Virginia,  along  the  Potomac,  and  the  Southern 
seaboard,  the  bloody  gage  of  battle  had  been  tendered  and  accepted. 
In  the  West,  the  Cumberland,  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  rivers  had 
been  ablaze  with  camp  fires,  and  their  banks  had  echoed  with  the 
reverberations  of  musketry  and  artillery.  The  campaigns-  of  1861-2 
had  furnished  enough  of  march,  and  battle,  and  incident  to  swell 
bulky  octavos,  but  they  were  only  introductory  chapters  to  the  real 
history.  With  the  opening  of  the  New  Year  the  public  mind  began 
more  clearly  to  understand  that  the  Rebellion  was  a  thing  of  gigan 
tic  dimensions,  and  almost  infinite  resources ;  that  it  could  not  be 
easily  exhausted  of  men;  that  to  starve  it  was  not  practicable ;  that 
it  could  command  arms  and  munitions  of  war  from  neutral  England; 
that  the  blockade  could  not  yet  prevent  the  exporting  of  cotton,  and 
that  a  protracted  and  sanguinary  war  was  upon  the  country.  With 
this  revelation  there  was  the  strengthened  purpose  to  relax  no  effort, 
to  spare  no  expenditure,  to  shun  no  sacrifice  to  maintain  the  perpe 
tuity  and  integrity  of  the  National  Union,  and  to  uphold  the  majesty 


THE  PEOPLE  VS.  CARPET  KNIGHTS.  117 

of  law.  The  temporary  blockade  of  the  Mississippi  river  had  given 
the  people  a  conception  of  the  consequences  to  flow  from  its  perma 
nent  occupancy  by  an  unfriendly  power.  Steadily,  too,  was  strength 
ening  the  public  conviction  that  the  war,  commenced  for  the  resto 
ration  of  the  Union,  could  only  be  made  successful  by  the  overthrow 
of  its  cause ;  that  the  real  contest  was  between  Freedom  and  Sla 
very;  that  after  years  of  angry  peace,  they  had  entered  the  lists, 
sword  in  hand,  visor  down,  with  no  master  of  ceremonies  empow 
ered  to  stay  the  combat,  and  that  their  strife  was  unto  the  death. 

There  had  been,  and  at  the  opening  of  1863  there  still  were,  in 
the  Union  service,  carpet  knights,  who  acted  as  though  their  high 
commission  was  to  keep  watch  lest  slavery  should  receive  damage 
in  the  fray,  but  the  voice  of  an  indignant  people,  and  a  gallant  army, 
was  demanding  their  displacement,  and  the  employment  of  men 
sternly,  terribly  earnest  in  this  work. 

Illinois  had,  in  1861,  placed  at  the  service  of  the  Government 
15,000  more  men  than  had  been  asked  at  her  hands,  and  there  was, 
at  the  beginning  of  January,  1862,  but  little  prospect  that  others 
would  be  required,  or,  at  the  farthest,  more  than  sufficient  to  keep 
full  the  decimated  regiments  already  formed.  But  thousands  were 
coming  forward,  demanding  to  be  admitted  to  the  honors  and  dan 
gers  of  the  war  for  the  Union. 

"In  January  the  32d  regiment,  Col.  John  Logan;  the  45th,  Col. 
John  V.  Smith;  the  64th,  Lt.  Col.  D.  Williams,  infantry,  and  the 
10th  cavalry,  Col.  J.  A.  Barrett,  were  ordered  to  the  field.  In  Feb 
ruary,  the  46th,  Col.  John  A.  Doris;  49th,  Col.  Win.  R.  Morrison; 
57th,  Col.  Silas  D.  Baldwin;  58th,  Col.  Win.  F.  Lynch,  and  61st, 
Col.  Jacob  Fry,  infantry;  5th  cavalry,  Col.  Wilson;  9th  caval 
ry,  Col.  Brackett,  and  13th  cavalry,  Col.  Bell,  and  seven  splendid 
batteries  of  light  artillery  followed,  commanded  by  Captains  Spar- 
strow,  Stienbeck,  Keith,  Rogers,  Waterhouse,Silversparre  and  Bou- 
ton.  The  most  of  these  troops  reached  the  field  in  time  to  join  our 
old  regiments,  and  with  them  to  participate  in  the  battle  of  Ft.  Don- 
•elson  on  the  15th  and  16th  of  February." — Adjutant-  GeneraVs 
Report. 

On  the  16th  of  February  Ft.  Donelson  was  surrendered  to  the 
Federal  troops,  and  ten  thousand  prisoners  of  war  sent  to  Camp 
DouglaSj  Chicago,  and  Camp  Butler,  Springfield-  To  guard  those 


118  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

at  the  former  place  were  detailed  the  23d,  53d  and  Goth  infantry,, 
and  two  or  three  artillery  companies,  and  for  the  latter  the  12th  cav 
alry,  then  at  Camp  Douglas,  was  ordered  to  Camp  Butler,  with  two- 
companies  of  artillery. 

In  March  the  53d,  56th  and  ftOth  infantry,  and  the  batteries  of 
Captains  Bouton,  Cheeney  and  Coggswell,  took  the  field,  and  were 
followed  in  April  by  the  62d  and  63d  infantry,  leaving  in  the  State 
for  guard  duty  only  the  65th,  now  fully  organized,  the  23d,  now  com 
pletely  reorganized,  the  12th  cavalry  and  Phillips'  battery. 

Recruiting  was  virtually  suspended  on  the  3d  of  April,  1862,  but 
on  the  1st  of  May  the  Adjutant- General,  at  Washington,  announced 
that  "upon  requisitions  made  by  commanders  in  the  field,  authority 
will  be  given  by  the  War  Department,  to  the  Governors  of  the  re 
spective  States,  to  recruit  for  regiments  now  in  the  service."  The 
ensuing  day  General  Halleck  made  the  following  requisition : 

"HEAD-QUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI,) 
"PirrsBURG  LANDING,  TENN.,  May  2,  1862.     J" 

"  His  Excellency,  Richard  Fates,  Governor  of  Illinois,  Spring  field  : 

"  GOVERNOR — I  am  authorized  to  call  upon  you  for  recruits  to  fill  up  the  volunteer 
regiments  from  your  State  in  this  army. 

"  Many  of  these  have  been  reduced,  by  disease  and  recent  battles,  very  far  below 
the  minimum  standard.  A  detail  from  such  regiments  will  soon  be  sent  to  you  for 
recruiting  service,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  you  will  give  the  matter  your  imme 
diate  attention. 

"Very  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

"H.  W.  HALLECK, 
"Major-Gen'l  Commanding." 

Enlisting  for  old  regiments  was  always  difficult  compared  with 
the  formation  of  new  ones,  and  the  aggregate  of  such  troops  from 
January  1st  to  December  22,  1862,  was  only  3,121. 

On  the  17th  of  May  the  State  was  called  upon  to  furnish  one  regi 
ment  of  infantry  for  special  service.  On  the  25th  Governor  Yates 
received  a  dispatch  from  Mr.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War,  stating 
that  the  enemy,  in  great  force,  was  marching  upon  Washington,  and 
desiring  him  to  organize  and  send  forward  all  the  volunteer  and  mili 
tia  force  of  the  State.  Two  days  subsequently  the  call  was  revoked, 
but  under  it  the  following  three  months'  regiments  were  organized 
and  in  camp  in  two  weeks  :  The  67th,  Col.  Hough;  the  68th,  Col. 
Stuart;  the  6&th,  Col..  Tucker;  the  70th,  Col.  Reeves;  the  7 1st,  Col. 


THE    NEGKO.  119 

Gilbert,   with  Phillips'    battery.     With   the  exeeption  of  the   71st, 
these  remained  on  guard  duty  in  the  State. 

The  23:1,  Col.  Mulligan,  and  Rourke's  Battery,  left  for  Annapolis, 
June  12th;  the  65th,  Col.  Cameron,  June  21st;  the  12th  cavalry, 
June  27th;  the  08th,  July  Cth ;  Phillips'  Battery,  July  12th,  and 
the  7 1st,  for  Columbus,  July  27th. 

The  military  situation  of  the  country  was  far  from  encouraging. 
There  had  been  magnificent  victories  in  the  West,  but  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  after  sitting  down  before  Yorktown  until  the 
enemy  saw  fit  to  evacuate  it,  had  made  the  memorable  Jam-js-Rlver- 
Chickahominy  campaign,  and  fought  indomitably  at  Meehan- 
icsville,  Games'  Hill,  Savage  Station  and  Malvern  Hill,  and  had 
seemed  to  open  the  way  into  Richmond,  but  to  the  grief  and  disap 
pointment  of  the  American  people,  had  fallen  back  until  resting  at 
Harrison's  Landing,  leaving  thousands  in  their  graves,  and  for  what? 

Before  Corinth  the  victors  of  Donelson  and  Shiloh  had  waited  and 
waited,  until  their  foemen  had  evacuated  and  left  them  a  barren  suc 
cess,  and  the  disappointed  people  chafed  under  the  vexation. 

The  course  of  not  a  few  commanders  in  our  army  had  added  to 
this  feeling.  Our  soldiers  felt  all  the  privations  of  war,  but  it  ap 
peared  to  be  the  purpose  of  some  in  high  authority  that  none  of  its 
horrors  should  fall  upon  rebels.  The  property  of  notorious  seces 
sionists  was  carefully  guarded;  their  property  was  safe.  Their 
slaves  were  restored  by  men  in  the  uniform  of  the  country.  The 
slaves,  who  alone  could  be  depended  upon  in  the  enemy's  country, 
and  who  have  never  betrayed  Union  soldiers,  were  forbidden  to 
come  within  our  lines,  and  for  want  of  the  information  they  could 
have  given,  disaster  came.  The  status  of  the  slave  confronted  each 
Department  commander,  and  forced  itself  upon  the  attention  of 
each  victorious  General.  Here  they  were  cultivating  the  estates  of 
notorious  rebels  in  arms;  there  they  were  captured  with  their  mas 
ters.  What  shall  be  done  with  the  negro?  was  the  perplexing  ques 
tion,  which  found  various  answers.  For  a  time  the  country  floun 
dered  on  without  a  manifest  policy ;  meanwhile  our  brave  men  were 
dying  in  trenches,  over-worked,  doing  what  might  have  been  done 
by  freedmen  wrested  from  traitors.  This  was  not  to  last  forever. 
In  spite  of  passion  and  party  and  prejudice,  a  change  was  to  come. 


120  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

The  proclamations  of  Fremont  and  Hunter,  liberating  the  slaves 
of  traitors,  had  been  revoked  by  the  President  for  prudential  rea 
sons,  but  the  act  was  there,  and  increased  the  confusion,  the  doubt 
and  uncertainty. 

There  was  a  demand  for  war  in  earnest,  for  leaders  who  would 
hurl  all  the  power  of  the  Government  upon  the  rebellion,  and  they 
were  to  come,  but  not  yet. 

At  this  juncture  came  the  call  of  the  President,  July  C,  18(32, 
for  300,000  volunteers.  It  was  at  first  intended,  says  Adjutant-Gen 
eral  Fuller,  "to  credit  on  this  call  those  States  for  any  surplus  which 
they  had  furnished.  It  was  not  known  nt  the  time  wh.it  our  surplus 
was.  On  the  next  day  the  Secretary  of  War  called  upon  Illinois  for 
nine  more  regiments,  'being  a  part  of  your  (our)  qu  t:i  under  the 
call  of  the  President.'  These  regiments  were  immediately  called 
for  by  General  Order  No.  42,  from  this  Department,  and  regulations 
prescribed  for  their  rendezvous  and  organization.  Before  these  reg 
iments  were  filled,  however,  and  on  the  17th  of  July,  Congress  en 
acted  that  whenever  the  President  should  'call  forth  the  militia  of 
the  States,  to  be  employed  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,'  lie 
should  specify  in  his  call  the  period  for  which  said  service, •<  should 
be  required,  not  exceeding  nine  months,  and  the  militia  so  called 
should  be  mustered  in  and  continue  to  serve  during  the  period,  so 
specified.  The  fourth  section  of  the  act  authorized  the  President, 
for  the  purpose  of  filling  up  old  regiments,  to  accept  the  services  of 
one  hundred  thousand  volunteers,  for  a  period  not  exceeding  one  year. 

"  Three  hundred  thousand  militia,  to  serve  for  a  period  of  nine 
months,  unless  sooner  discharged,  were  called  for  August  5th.  The 
order  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  making  the  call  upon  this  State,  as 
sumed  that  a  draft  would  be  necessary;  and,  in  anticipation  that  the 
States  would  not  be  able  to  contribute  their  quotas  of  the  call  in 
July  for  three  years'  service,  announced  that  if  any  State  should  not 
by  the  ISth  of  August  furnish  its  quota  of  the  three  years'  volun 
teers,  the  deficiency  would  be  made  up  by  a  special  draft  from  the 
militia." 

Immediately  after  the  call  for  300,000  for  three  years,  and  before 
the  announcement  of  the  quota  under  the  two  calls,  Governor  Yates 
issued  the  annexed  proclamation : 


121 


PROCLAMATION  OF  GOV.  YATES. 

"PEOPLE  OF  ILLINOIS: 

"Under  a  late  requisition  of  the  President,  I  am  called  upon  to 
furnish,  at  the  earliest  practicable  period,  nine  regiments  of  Infantry, 
for  three  years'  service,  being  a  part  of  the  quota  of  the  State,  under 
the  call  of  the  President  for  three  hundred  thousand  men.  An  or 
der  of  Adjutant-General  Fuller,  this  day  published,  will  give  the 
details  as  to  the  mode  of  raising  the  troops,  subsistence,  transporta 
tion,  place  of  rendezvous,  etc. 

"  The  war  has  now  arrived  at  the  most  critical  point.  A  series  of 
splendid  successes  has  crowned  our  arms.  The  enemy  has  been 
driven  from  Tennessee,  Missouri  and  Kentucky,  from  Arkansas, 
Louisiana  and  Texas,  and  from  the  sea  coast  at  almost  all  points. 
The  Mississippi  has  been  opened  from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf.  The  Po 
tomac  has  been  opened  from  Washington  to  the  Chesapeake. 
Beaten,  broken,  demoralized,  bankrupt  and  scattered,  the  insur 
gents  have  fled  before  our  victorious  legions,  leaving  us  a  large  area 
of  conquered  territory,  and  almost  innumerable  posts  in  the  enemy's 
country  to  garrison  with  our  troops. 

"The  rebels,  whose  leaders  are  bold  and  sagacious,  and  with 
whom  it  is  neck  or  nothing  as  to  the  rebellion,  have,  with  the  energy 
of  desperation  resolved  to  cast  all  upon  the  hazard  of  a  single  battle; 
and  while  weak  at  every  other  point,  they  have,  by  the  evacuation 
of  Corinth,  and  by  the  rapid  concentration  of  their  scattered  forces 
at  Richmond,  brought  together  a  great  and  powerful  army,  far  supe 
rior  in  numbers  to  that  of  our  own  at  the  same  point. 

"  With  consummate  skill  and  generalship  they  have  planned  so  as 
not  only  to  defend  their  own  capital,  but  also,  should  they  be  succes- 
ful  in  driving  back  McClellan,  to  take  our's,  and  raise  the  rebel  flag 
upon  the  capitol  at  Washington,  with  the  expectation  that  so  great 
a  conquest  would  reanimate  the  South,  revive  their  fading  fortunes, 
and  secure  them  the  immediate  co-operation  of  the  two  great  pow 
ers  of  Europe — England  and  France. 

"  This  is  their  last  great  stake.  The  desperation  with  which  they 
have  fought  has  developed  the  depth,  intensity  and  recklessness  of 
their  designs.  Their  mode  of  warfare  is  the  most  malignant,  des- 


122  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

perate  and  savage.  Thus  we  are  brought  to  the  very  crisis  of  the 
rebellion,  and  all  our  hopes,  and  the  hopes  of  this  great  country,  hang 
upon  the  issue. 

"  It  is  for  this  reason  that  the  President  telegraphs  me  in  a  private 
dispatch,  'Time  is  everything.  Please  act  in  view  of  this.' 

"  Illinoisans !  In  view  of  the  crisis,  when  the  battles  soon  to  be 
fought  will  be  decisive ;  when  the  alliance  with  foreign  powers  is  not 
only  sought,  but  confidently  relied  upon  by  the  rebels ;  and  when 
our  own  brave  volunteers  contending  against  unequal  numbers 
stretch  out  their  hands  for  help,  I  cannot  doubt  the  response  you  will 
give.  Indeed  I  am  most  happy  to  state,  that  in  response  to  mo  -t  ac 
tive  measures  already  taken,  every  mail  brings  me  the  glad  tidings 
of  the  rapid  enrollment  of  our  volunteers  in  the  nine  regiments 
which  are  forming. 

"  Covered  all  over  with  glory,  with  a  name  honored  throughout 
the  earth — shining  with  the  luster  of  the  great  achievements  of  her 
sons  on  almost  every  field,  Illinois  will  not  now  hold  back  and  tarnish 
the  fame  she  has  so  nobly  earned.  To  the  timid  who  suppose  that 
the  State  will  not  now  respond,  I  say  '  take  courage.'  They  vastly 
underrate  the  patriotism  and  courage  of  the  men  of  Illinois. 

"But  I  repeat,  time  is  everything.  Defeat  now  would  prolong  the 
war  for  years.  Also  remember  that  every  argument  of  public  ne 
cessity,  of  patriotism,  every  emotion  of  humanity  appeals  to  the  peo 
ple  to  turn  out  in  overwhelming  demonstration,  so  that  the  rebellion 
may  be  speedily  crushed  and  an  end  put  to  this  desolating  war.  Re 
member  the  words  of  Douglas,  that  the  '  shortest  road  to  peace  is 
the  most  stupendous  preparation  for  war.' 

"  The  crisis  is  such  that  every  man  must  feel  that  the  success  of 
our  cause  depends  upon  himself,  and  not  upon  his  neighbor.  "What 
ever  his  position,  his  wealth,  his  rank  or  condition,  he  must  be  ready 
to  devote  ALL  to  the  service  of  the  country.  Let  all,  old  and  young, 
contribute,  work,  speak,  and  in  every  possible  mode  further  the 
work  of  the  speedy  enrollment  of  our  forces.  Let  not  only  every 
man,  but  every  woman  be  a  soldier,  if  not  to  fight,  yet  to  cheer  and 
encourage  and  to  provide  comforts  and  relief  for  the  sick  and  wound 
ed.  The  public  as  yet  know  but  litle  how  much  the  country  is  in 
debted  to  the  noble  women  of  our  State  for  their  assistance  to  our 
soldiers  in  the  field.  All  along  the  path  of  our  army,  upon  the  banks 


GOVERNOR'S  PROCLAMATION.  123 

of  our  rivers,  filling  our  steamboats  and  ambulances,  in  the  tent  of 
the  soldier  far  from  his  home,  I  have  witnessed  the  bright  traces  of 
woman's  enduring  love  and  benevolence.  When  the  war  shall  have 
closed  and  its  history  shall  be  written,  the  labors  of  our  Sanitary  As 
sociations  and  Aid  Societies  will  present  pages  as  bright  as  the  loftiest 
heroism  of  the  camp  and  field.  Let  all  loyal  men  and  women  perse 
vere  in  the  good  work. 

"Illinoisans !  Look  at  the  issue  and  do  not  falter.  Your  all  is  at 
stake.  What  are  your  beautiful  prairies,  comfortable  mansions  and 
rich  harvests? — what  is  even  life  worth,  if  your  government  is  lost? 

"Better  that  the  desolation  of  pestilence  and  famine  should  sweep 
over  the  State,  than  that  the  glorious  work  of  our  fathers  should  now 

/  O 

forever  foil.  Look  out  upon  your  country  with  a  government  so  free, 
institutions  so  noble,  boundaries  so  broad — a  beautiful  sisterhood  of 
States  so  prosperous  and  happy,  and  resolve  afresh  that  as  your  fath 
ers  gave  it  you,  you  will  hand  it  down  to  your  children,  a  glorious  in 
heritance  of  liberty  and  union  for  their  enjoyment  forever.  For  sev 
en  long  years  our  fathers  endured,  suffered  and  fought  to  build  up 
the  fair  fabric  of  American  freedom.  The  precious  boon  purchased 
by  patriot  blood  and  treasure  was  committed  to  us  for  enjoyment, 
and  to  be  transmitted  to  our  posterity  with  the  most  solemn  injunc 
tions  that  man  has  the  power  to  lay  on  man.  By  the  grace  of  God, 
we  will  be  faithful  to  the  trust !  And  if  need  be,  for  seven  years  to 
come  will  we  struggle  to  maintain  a  perfect  Union,  a  government  of 
one  people,  in  one  nation,  under  one  Constitution. 

"  The  corning  of  the  brave  boys  of  Illinois  will  be  hailed  on  the 
banks  of  the  Potomac  and  James  River  with  shouts  of  welcome. 

"During  my  recent  visit  East,  I  felt  my  heart  to  leap  with  exult 
ant  delight  at  the  praise  of  Illinois  heard  from  every  lip.  You  will 
be  hailed  as  the  brothers  of  the  men  who  have  faced  the  storm  of 
battle,  and  gloriously  triumphed  at  Donelson,  Pea  Ridge,  Shiloh,  and 
other  memorable  fields. 

"  Go,  then,  and  doubt  not  the  result.  We  are  sure  to  triumph. 
The  God  of  liberty,  justice  and  humanity  is  on  our  side. 

"  Your  all  and  your  children's  all — all  that  is  worth  living  or  dying 
for,  is  at  stake.  Then  rally  once  again  for  the  old  flag,  for  our  coun 
try,  union  and  liberty. 

"  RICHARD  YATES,  Governor  of  Illinois.'* 


PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

He  also  addressed  to  the  President  the  following  letter : 


r> 


"  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  SPRINGFIELD,  ILL.,  July  11,  1862. 
"President  Lincoln,    Washington,  D.    G.  : 

"The  crisis  of  the  war  and  our  national  existence  is  upon  us.  The  time  has  come 
for  the  adoption  of  more  decisive  measures.  Greater  vigor  and  earnestness  irust  be 
infused  into  our  military  movements.  Blows  must  be  struck  at  the  vital  parti  of  the 
rebellion.  The  Government  should  employ  every  available  means  compatible  with 
the  rules  of  warfare  to  subject  the  traitors.  Summon  to  the  standard  of  the  Re 
public  all  men  willing  to  fight  for  the  Union.  Let  loyalty,  and  that  alone,  be  the 
dividing  line  between  the" nation  and  its  foes.  Generals  should  not  be  permitted  to 
fritter  away  the  sinews  of  our  brave  men  in  guarding  the  property  of  traitors,  and 
in  driving  back  into  their  hands  loyal  blacks,  who  offer  us  their  labor,  and  seek  shel 
ter  beneath  the  Federal  flag.  Shall  we  sit  supinely  by,  and  see  the  war  sweep  off 
the  youth  and  strength  of  the  land,  and  refuse  aid  from  that  class  of  men,  who  are, 
at  least  worthy,  foes  of  traitors  and  the  murderers  of  our  Government  arid  of  our 
children? 

"Our  armies  should  be  directed  to  forage  on  the  enemy,  and  to  cease  paying 
traitors  and  their  abettors  exorbitant  exactions  for  food  needed  by  the  sick  or 
hungry  soldier.  Mild  and  conciliatory  means  have  been  tried  in  vain  to  recall  the 
rebels  to  their  allegiance.  The  conservative  policy  has  utterly  failed  to  reduce 
traitors  to  obedience  and  to  restore  the  supremacy  of  the  laws.  They  have,  by 
means  of  sweeping  conscriptions,  gathered  in  countless  hordes,  and  threaten  to 
beat  back  and  overwhelm  the  armies  of  the  Union.  With  blood  and  treason  in  their 
hearts,  they  flaunt  the  black  flag  of  rebellion  in  the  face  of  the  Government,  and 
threaten  to  butcher  our  brave  and  loyal  armies  with  foreign  bayonets.  They  arm 
negroes  and  merciless  savages  in  their  behalf. 

"Mr.  Lincoln,  the  crisis  demands  greater  and  sterner  measures.  Proclaim  anew 
the  good  old  motto  of  the  Republic,  'Liberty  and  Union,  now  and  forever,  one  and 
inseparable,'  and  accept  the  services  of  all  loyal  men,  and  it  will  be  in  your  power 
to  stamp  armies  out  of  the  earth — irresistible  armies  that  will  bear  our  banners  to 
certain  victory. 

"In  any  event,  Illinois,  already  alive  with  beat  of  drum  and  resounding  with  the 
tramp  of  new  recruits,  will  respond  to  your  call.  Adopt  this  policy  and  she  will 
leap  like  a  flaming  giant  into  the  fight. 

"This  policy  for  the  conduct  of  the  war  will  render  foreign  intervention  impossi 
ble,  and  the  arms  of  the  Republic  invincible.  It  will  bring  the  conflict  to  a  speedy 
close,  and  secure  peace  on  a  permanent  basis. 

"RICHARD  YATES, 
"Governor  of  Illinois." 

These  calls,  and  the  response  of  the  State  Executive,  kindled  the 
old  enthusiasm,  and  from  all  parts  of  the  State  came  assurances 
that  men  should  be  furnished  if  time  was  given  for  volunteering, 


THE   QUOTA — ffO   DRAFT",  125 

and  Asking  that  the  draft  be  postponed.  This  was  communicated 
to  the  War  Department,  and  it  was  requested  to  announce  the  State 
quota  under  the  last  two  calls.  "  The  next  day  it  was  announced 
that  our  quota,  under  each  call,  would  "be  26,148,  but  as  Illinois  had 
furnished  16,987  in  excess  of  her  quota,  of  those  in  the  field,  the 
total  quotas,  under  both  calls,  was  35,320,  Applications  were  made 
hourly  fi*om  the  different  counties  in  the  State  to  ascertain  what 
their  qitota  was,  and  immediately  on  ascertaining  from  the  War  De 
partment  what  it  was,  the  announcement  was  made  through  the 
public  press-  Still,  in  the  minds  of  some,  it  was  a  question  whether 
volunteers  for  three  years  would  be  accepted  in  lieu  of  militia. 
This  was  quickly  settled,  however,  by  a  telegram  on  the  8th,  from 
the  War  Department,  that  all  volunteers  would  be  accepted  until 
the  15th  of  August  for  new  regiments,  and  all  after  that  time,  for 
filling  up  old  regiments,  and  that  all  volunteers  enlisted  before  the 
draft  (August  18th)  would  be  credited  on  those  calls." — Adjutant- 
G-eneraVs  Report. 

On  the  9th  General  Fuller  reported  there  would  be  no  draft  ifl 
Illinois,  basing  his  announcement  upon  the  rapid  enlistments  and 
the  credits  for  men  already  in  the  field,  but  the  same  evening  he  re 
ceived  a  telegram  from  the  Assistant  Adjutant-General  at  Washing 
ton,  stating  that  it  had  been  decided  in  fixing  the  quotas  to  make  no 
allowance  for  those  in  the  field  prior  to  the  .call,  and  announcing  as 
the  Illinois  quota  to  be  raised  52,296.  This  added  16,978  to  the 
needed  number.  It  is  due  that  Adjutant  Fuller  shall  tell  how  the 
call  was  answered,  and  we  quote  from  the  report  of  1861-2: 

"To  raise  either  52,296,  or  35,320  volunteers  (with  perhaps  the  exception  of  one 
thousand  who  had  enlisted  between  July  7th  and  August  &th)  but  thirteen  days  were 
allowed.  The  floating  population  of  the  State  who  would  enlist  had  already  done  so. 
These  new  volunteers  must  come,  if  come  at  all,  from  the  farmers  and  mechanics  of 
the  State.  Farmers  were  in  the  midst  of  their  harvests,-  and  it  is  no  exaggeration 
to  say,  that  inspired  by  a  holy  zeal,  animated  by  a  common  purpose,  and  firmly  re 
solved  on  rescuing  this  Government  from  the  very  brink  of  ruin,  and  restoring  it  to 
the  condition  our  fathers  left,  over  fifty  thousand  of  them  left  their  harvests  un- 
gathered — -their  tools  on  their  benches — the  plows  in  the  furrows,  and  turned  their 
backs  upon  home  and  loved  ones,  AND  BKFORK  ELEVEN  DAYS  EXPIRED  THE  DEMANDS  or 
THE  COUNTRT  WERE  MET,  AND  BOTH  QUOTAS  WERE  FILLED  ! !  Proud  indeed  was  the 
day  to  all  Illinoisans  when  this  extraordinary  announcement  was  made  that  the  en 
listment  rolls  were  full.  And  when  the  historian  shall  write  the  record  of  thestf 


126  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

eventful  days  of  August,  1862,  no  prouder  record  can  be  created  to  the  honor  and 
memory  of  a  free  people  than  a  plain,  full  narration  of  actual  facts. 

"It  is  not  my  province,  in  this  report,  to  bestow  fulsome  praise,  or  write  glowing 
eulogies,  but  when  I  remember  what  we  all  witnessed  in  those  days — when  I  re 
member  the  unselfish  and  patriotic  impulse  which  animated  every  soul — and  the 
universal  liberality  of  those  who  were  either  too  young  or  too  old  to  enlist  to  aid 
those  in  the  field — when  I  remember  the  holy  ardor  which  aged  mothers  and  fair 
daughters  infused  into  husbands,  sons,  and  brothers— I  say  when  I  remember  these 
things,  I  cannot  but  feel  justified  in  departing  from  the  dull  routine  of  statistics, 
and  in  bestowing  upon  the  subject  this  passing  notice." 

Aye,  truly,  for  the  raising  of  more  than  half  a  hundred  thousand 
men  within  one  fortnight,  in  the  second  year  of  war,  is  worthy  such 
a  notice.  And  no  words  are  needed  other  than  the  Adjutant- Gen 
eral  has  so  well  employed. 

The  appended  extract,  from  the  same  document,  will  enable  the 
reader  to  see  what  the  State  had  done  toward  filling  up  the  army 
of  the  Union : 

"Immediately  after  the  call  for  nine  regiments,  in  July,  nine  camps  were  estab* 
tablished,  one  in  each  of  the  old  congressional  districts  of  the  State,  for  the  tem 
porary  rendezvous  of  those  regiments,  but  with  the  intention  of  removing  them,  as 
soon  as  they  should  be  full,  into  the  principal  camps  of  instruction  at  Chicago  and 
Springfield,  for  permanent  organization  and  instruction. 

"  There  was,  however,  in  the  State  barely  enough  camp  and  garrison  equipage  for 
these  regiments,  and  consequently  an  additional  embarrassment  presented  itself  to 
provide  for  those  called  August  5th.  The  State  was  soon  full  of  volunteers.  All 
had  left  their  business,  and  some  of  them  were  without  homes.  The  General  Gov 
ernment  was  unable  to  supply  tents,  and  there  Was  not  time  to  erect  barracks  to 
accommodate  half  of  them.  Such,  therefore,  as  were  not  supplied  were  directed 
to  remain  at  home  or  seek  temporary  quarters,  as  best  they  could,  and  await 
orders. 

"  And  still  another  difficulty  grew  out  of  the  Want  of  clothing,  and  especially 
blankets.  All  the  resources  of  th'e  Government  were  taxed  to  supply  the  immense 
army  organizing  throughout  the  country,  and,  considering  the  immense  amount  of 
supplies  required,  and  the  suddenness  of  the  emergency  which  had  called  out  these 
Volunteers,  their  Wants  were  met  with  very  commendable  promptness.  In  most  of 
the  counties  of  the  State  there  were  fair  grounds  at  the  county  seats.  In  many, 
counties  the  sheds  on  these  county  fair  grounds  were  repaired  and  occupied  by  coin^ 
panics  and  regiments  until  quarters  could  be  prepared  for  them  at  the  general  camps 
of  instruction.  Several  regiments,  however,  which  were  unable  to  obtain  quarters  at 
the  principal  camps,  moved  from  these  neighborhood  rendezvous  directly  to  the 
field. 

"  Six  of  these  new  regiments  were  organized,  mustered,  armed,  and  clothed,  and 


THE   AGGREGATE.  127 

SOnt  into  the  field  in  August ;  twenty-two  and  Board  of  Trade  Battery,  Capt.  Stokes, 
and  Miller's  Battery,  in  September;  thirteen  in  October;  fifteen,  besides  the  Spring 
field  Light  Artillery,  Capt.  Vaughn,  and  Mercantile  Battery,  Capt.  Cooley,  in  Novenv 
ber,  and  three  in  December,  making  an  aggregate  of  fifty-nine  regiments  of  infant^ 
ry  and  four  batteries,  consisting  of  fifty  three  thousand  eight  hundred  and  nineteen 
(53,819)  officers  and  enlisted  men.  Besides  this,  twenty-seven  hundred  and  fifty- 
three  (2,753)  were,  during  about  the  same  time,  enlisted  and  sent  to  old  regiments, 
undsr  the  direction  of  Col.  Morrison,  State  Superintendent.  Add  to  these  1,083, 
14th  cavalry,  now  organizing  at  Peoria:  386  in  Camp  Butler;  156,  Elgin  Battery, 
Capt.  Renwick, /at  Camp  Douglas,  now  under  marching  orders ;  135,  Hcnshaw's  Bat 
tery,  at  Ottawa,  and  83,  Capt.  Adams'  cavalry  company  of  the  15th  regiment,  makes 
the  grand  total,  under  the  last  calls,  fifty-eight  thousand  four  hundred  and  sixteen 
(58,416),  or  six  thousand  one  hundred  and  nineteen  (6,119)  more  than  our  quotas 
under  the  last  calls.  The  excess  furnished  by  this  State,  as  reported  by  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  August  8th,  was  sixteen  thousand  nine  hundred  and  seventy-eight 
(16,Q?S),  which,  added  to  the  Surplus  under  the  last  calls  of  six  thousand  one  hun 
dred  and  nineteen  (6,119),  makes  the  total  excess,  as  officially  ascertained,  twenty* 
three,  thousand  ninety-seven  (23,097).  That  the  real  excess  is  much  greater  there  cac 
be  no  doubt  whatever.  The  reasons  for  this  conclusion  have  been  heretofore  stated. 

"  Since  the  call  of  August  5th,  the  Secretary  of  War  has  authorized  the  accept 
ance  of  several  regiments  of  cavalry  and  six  batteries  of  light  artillery.  But  two 
of  these  regiments  will  probably  be  raised  by  enlistments,  the  14th,  Col.  Capron,  at 
Peoria,  and  the  16th,  now  known  as  the  17th,  Col.  Thieleman,  at  Camp  Butler.  The 
15th,  Col.  Stewart,  was  organized  on  the  25th  ultimo,  by  assigning  to  his  battalion 
of  six  companies,  two  companies,  Capts.  Willis  and  Shearer,  attached  to  the  36tb 
infantry ;  one,  Capt.  Gilbert,  formerly  attached  to  the  52d,  and  afterwards 
nominally  assigned  to  the  12th  cavalry;  one,  Capt.  Ford,  attached  to  the 
53d  infantry ;  one,  Capt.  Huntley,  formerly  of  the  1st  cavalry,  and  one,  Capt.  Wild* 
6r,  known  as  the  'Kane  County  Cavalry.1 

"Four  of  the  six  batteries  have  already  been  raised.  Three  of  them — Board  of 
Trade  Battery,  Capt.  Stokes;  Mercantile  Battery,  Capt.  Cooley;  Springfield  Bat 
tery,  Capt.  Vaughn — are  in  the  field.  The  Elgin  Battery,  Capt.  Renwick,  is  ready 
and  under  orders.  Capt.  Henshaw  is  nearly  full,  and  Capt.  Hawthorne  will  proba 
bly  be  full  the  present  month." 

Within  two  years  the  State  of  Illinois  placed  one  hundred  arwl 
thirty-five  thousand  four  hundred  and  forty  men  in  the  field,  and 
they  had  been  heard  from  in  the  midst  of  battle.  The  list  of  pro 
motions  for  gallant  conduct  and  superior  courage  had  already  be 
come  large,  and  not  a  few  were  wearing  the  insignia  of  Brigadier 
and  Major  Generals,  while  one  of  the  most  modest  was  steadily 
making  his  way  to  the  command  of  all  the  forces  of  the  Union. 

It  breaks  the  sentiment  of  State  pride  which  inspires  one  in  re- 


128  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

viewing  the  war  record  of  Illinois,  when  compelled  to  read  the  legis 
lative  history  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1863-4.  Assembled  at 
a  time  of  profound  anxiety,  with  the  Nation  in  its  struggle  for  life, 
with  nearly  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  thousand  citizens  under 
arms,  surely  the  solemnity  and  magnitude  of  the  issues  should  have 
elevated  those  representatives  of  the  people  to  the  dignity  of  states 
manship,  and  to  a  comprehension  of  the  supreme  importance  of* 
the  hour.  Alas,  that  it  was  not  so.  The  Governor  delivered  an 
able  and  patriotic  message,  giving  full  information  of  the  military 
condition  of  the  State,  and  recommending  needed  legislation* 
Among  the  topics  were,  that  provision  should  be  made  for  the 
payment  of  expenses  incurred  in  relieving  the  pressing  wants  of  the 
soldiers  in  the  field ;  fof  compensation  to  the  allotment  commission 
ers,  appointed  to  visit  the  volunteers  in  the  field  and  receive  and 
send  forward  from  time  to  time  to  their  families  or  friends  their  re 
spective  allotments  of  pay ;  to  the  proper  organization  of  the  militia 
for  honxe  service ;  that  provision  be  made  for  drafting  in  all 
cases  where  it  should  become  necessary  to  suppress  insurrection  and 
supply  any  deficiency  in  the  ordinary  militia  organization,  that  in 
the  event  of  sudden  danger  the  entire  population,  capable  of  bear 
ing  armsj  might  be  called  out  on  the  shortest  notice ;  that  suitable 
legislation  should  provide  facilities  for  military  education;  that  a 
memorial  to  the  President  and  Congress  be  sent  from  the  General 
Assembly,  seeking  the  brigading  of  State  troops  together,  instead  of* 
scattering  them,  and  that  volunteers  from  the  State  who  had  enlisted 
elsewhere,  when  the  War  Department  refused  their  services,  might 
be  reorganized  as  Illinois  troops ;  that  Congress  should  be  asked  to 
give  the  election  of  officers  into  the  hands  of  soldiers  themselves; 
and  that  provision  be  made  for  the  taking  of  the  votes  of  volunteers 
in  the  field.  Said  he : 

"  I  desire  to  call  especial  attention  to  the  importance  of  an  enact 
ment,  making  provision  for  taking  the  votes  of  the  volunteers  of 
the  State  in  actual  service.  The  fact  that  a  man  is  fighting  to  sus^ 
tain  his  country's  flag  should  not  deprive  him  of  the  highest  privi 
lege  of  citizenship;  viz.,  the  right  to  take  a  part  in  the  selection  of 
his  rulers.  The  soldier  should  be  allowed  a- voice  in  the  nation  for 
the  existence  of  which  he  is  placing  his  life  in  peril.  The  reason 
which  has  excluded  the  soldier  in  the  regular  army  does  not  apply 


SOLl)IKES*    VOTES.  129 

u)  the  soldier  in  the  volunteer  service.  The  regular,  loses  his  State 
identity,  and,  to  a  certain  extent,  local  citizenship.  The  volunteer, 
t>n  the  other  hand,  does  not-.  He  still  continues  to  be  a  son  of  Illi 
nois,  fighting  under  his  State  flag  as  well  as  the  stars  and  stripes. 
A  force  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  thousand  volunteered  to 
the  field  from  our  State.  Of  this  number  it  is  safe  to  say  one  hun 
dred  thousand  are  voters.  And  if  they  were  not  legally  voters 
previous  to  enlistment,  that  dfct  ought  certainly  to  make  them  so, 
N"o  man  more  justly  owns  the  rights  of  citizenship  than  he  who 
voluntarily  takes  up  arms  in  defense  of  his  country  and  its  dearest 
rights.  These  men  have  as  deep  an  interest  in  the  selection  of  the 
representatives  who  are  to  a  great  extent  to  control  and  direct  the 
destinies  of  the  country,  as  any  other  class  of  persons.  The  Secre 
tary  of  War  most  justly  decided  that  he  who  votes  must  bear 
arms.  Shall  not  the  Legislatures  of  the  different  States  respond 
by  saying :  '  Arid  who  bears  arms  must  vote  ?'  T  see  nothing  in 
our  constitution  which  prohibits  the  enactment  of  such  law.  On 
the  contrary,  Section  5,  of  Article  III.  of  that  instrument,  provides 
that  '  no  elector  shall  be  deemed  to  have  lost  his  residence  in  this 
State  by  reason  of  his  absence  on  business  of  the  United  States  or 
of  this  State.'  Justice  demands  that  this  provision,  should  be  car 
ried  out  in  its  letter  and  spirit.  Past  legislatures,  not  anticipating 
the  present  anomalous  condition  of  national  affairs,  passed  nq  .enact 
ment  by  which  it  can  be  legally  carried  into  effect.  A  law  can  be 
framed  without  difficulty,  providing  for  taking  the  votes  of  the 
soldiers  in  active  service,  at  least  for  1'ie  most  important  officers; 
viz.,  State  officers,  representatives  in  Congress,  and  members  of  the 
Legislature.  In  the  election  of  these  officers,  the  soldier,  although 
away  from  home,  takes  as  much,  if  not  more,  interest  than  the  citi 
zen  actually  on  the  spot.  lie  reads  the  newspapers,  receives  let 
ters  from  his  friends,  and  in-  fact  understands  the  issues  of  the  day 
as  well,  if  not  better,  than  the  man  for  the  defense  of  whose  home 
he  has  taken  up  arms. 

"  It  may  be  objected,  that  great  difficulty  and  expense  would  ne 
cessarily  be  created  in  taking  the  vote  of  the  army  in  the  field. 
But  I  submit  that  nearly  all  the  difficulty  and  expense  would  be  ob 
viated  by  the  following  simple  and  effective  plan;    The  three  field 
9, 


130  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

officers,  or  in  their  absence,  the  three  ranking  officers  of  each  regi 
ment  of  infantry  or  cavalry,  and  three  highest  commissioned  officers, 
or  those  acting  in  their  places,  of  each  battery  of  artillery,  or  each 
company  or  suuadron  of  infantry  or  cavalry  on  detached  service, 
might  be  made  the  inspectors  of  the  election,  with  power  to  appoint 
the  proper  person  clerk  of  the  election,  so  that  the  vote  may  be  ta 
ken  on  the  day  fixed  by  the  Constitution." 

The  message  also  asked  the  attention  of  the  Legislature  to  the 
Sanitary  Bureau ;  to  the  erection  of  a  hospital  or  soldiers'  home ; 
to  the  question  of  liberal  bounties  to  volunteers,  especially  that  some 
measures  be  adopted  "  to  refund  to  the  counties  the  bounties  which 
they  so  generously  paid  to  their  soldiers,  or  in  some  equitable  mode 
to  relieve  them,  i^ro  tanto,  of  the  amount  required  to  be  raised 
towards  this  object,"  and  that  the  General  assembly  should,  to  quote 
from  the  message,  "  send  its  potent  voice  to  Congress,  demanding 
an  increase  of  pay  to  the  private  soldier.  His  present  pay  is  only 
$13  per  month,  or  $156  per  year,  a  sum  totally  insufficient  to  support 
him  and  his  family  at  the  present  high  rate  of  every  article  of  fam 
ily  consumption,  at  least  fifty  per  cent,  higher  now  than  when  the  war 
commenced.  Thirteen  dollars  per  month  is  no  better  pay  now  than 
seven  dollars  would  have  been  two  years  since.  It  will  be  economy 
to  the  Government  to  increase  the  pay,  or  desertions,  already  nu 
merous,  will  become  still  more  so.  No  soldier  can  bear  the  thought 
that  his  wife  and  children  are  in  destitution  and  suffering.  I  recom 
mend  a  strong  appeal  by  this  General  Assembly  to  Congress,  for 
this  important  and  humane  >bject." 

But  other  topics  engrossed  the  majority.  There  were  other  ob 
jects  to  be  secured.  Extreme  parliamentary  stratagems  were  re 
quired  to  prevent  the  adoption  of  legislation  which,  had  it  been  for 
merly  enacted,  would  have  blasted  the  fair  fame  of  the  State 
forever. 

In  June,  1863,  a  disagreement  having  occurred  between  the  two 
Houses,  as  to  the  time  of  final  adjournment,  the  Governor  availed 
'himself  of  a  power,  lodged  in  his  hands  by  the  Constitution,  and 
prorogued  the  General  Assembly  to  the  31st  day  of  December,  1864, 
the  day  when  its  legal  existence  would  terminate  bylaw.  The  blow 
fell  like  a  thunderbolt,  and  the  startled  representatives  found  them- 


PROCLAMATION    OF    FEB.    THE    FOURTH.  13-1 

selves  adrift.  We  sadly  fear  that  the  army  in  Flanders  was  completely 
outdone  in  the  use  of  explosives.  To  write  literally  the  remarks  of 
some  of  the  honorables,  were  to  render  this  a  very  "  profane  his 
tory." 

But  there  is  a  State  record  for  1863-4  of  honor,  namely  that  of  the 
people  and  the  gallantry  of  the  citizen  soldiery.  We  present  the 
Governor's  Proclamation  of  February  5,  1864,  with  copious  extracts 
from  the  report  of  Adjutant- General  Fuller  of  February  1,  1864, 
bringing  down  the  history  of  the  State  responses  to  the  calls  of  Gov 
ernment,  to  October  1,  1863,  and  it  will  be  seen  that  all  that  was 
-asked  had  been  freely  given : 

PROCLAMATION. 

"EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,          ) 
"SPRINGFIELD,  ILL.,  February  4,  1864.  f 

-"  To  the  People  of  Illinois  : 

"  It  is  with  feelings  of  the  profoundest  satisfaction  that  I  announce 
to  you  the  number  of  men  which  Illinois  has  contributed  to  the 
armies  of  the  Union  from  the  commencement  of  the  rebellion  to  the 
present  time. 

"  Our  contingent  of  volunteers  under  the  calls  of  the  President: 

"In  1861  was 47,785 

"In  1862  was "32,685 

"In  1863  was ,,...., 64,630 

"Total  quotas  under  all  calls 145,100 

"The  last  call  was  made  October  17, 1863,  and  the  State  had  furn 
ished  and  been  credited  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  three 
hundred  and  twenty-one  (125,321)  men — a  surplus  of  eight  thousand 
one  hundred  and  fifty-one  (8,151),  over  all  other  calls  to  be  credited  to 
our  contingent  for  that  call,  and  which  reduced  it  to  19,779  men, 
with  still  other  credits  claimed,  but  not  fully  adjusted  because  of  im 
perfect  record  in  case  of  citizens,  and  in  some  instances  whole  com 
panies  of  IHinoisans,  who  had  entered  the  regiments  of  other  States 
at  times  when  our  quotas  under  given  calls  were,  entirely  full,  and 
because  of  which,  their  services  I  was  reluctantly  compelled  to 

decline. 

"  In  the  volunteer  regiments  from  the  State  of  Missouri  6,032  citi- 


132  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

zens  of  Illinois,  were  enrolled  and  mustered,  and  in  Illinois  regi 
ments  there  have  been  1,659  residents  of  the  State  of  Missouri  en 
listed;  which  leaves,  as  between  the  States,  a  credit  of  4,273  in  fa 
vor  of  Illinois. 

"  After  an  adjustment  of  credit  of  125,321  at  and  prior  to  October  last, 
from  more  careful  examination  of  the  rolls  and  returns  from  the  field, 
it  was  ascertained  that  we  were  entitled  to  an  additional  credit  of 
10,947,  which  increased  the  number  enrolled  in  our  own  regiments, 
and  for  which  we  were  entitled  to  credit  prior  to  last  call,  to  136,238, 
leaving  the  whole  account  thus : 

"  Quotas  under  all  calls 145,100 

"Credits  for  enlistments  in  Illinois  regiments 136,268 

"  Balance  in  Missouri  regiments 4,373 — 140,641 

"  Total  Balance  due  the  Government  under  last  call 4,459 

"Besides  the  foregoing,  the  State  claims  an  unadjusted  balance  of 
3,264  for  volunteers  furnished  prior  to  October  1,  1863,  which  I 
doubt  not  will  soon  be  credited  by  the  War  Department. 

"  Independent  of  the  last  mentioned  figures,  and  exclusive  of  old 
regiments  re-enlisting  as  veterans,  our  quota  on  the  first  day  of  Jan* 
nary  was  more  than  fitted,  as  evidenced  by  rolls  returned  since  the 
last  call. 

"In  other  words,  the  State  of  Illinois,  having  under  every  call  ex 
ceeded  her  quota  by  the  voluntarily  demonstrated  patriotism  of  her 
people,  was  not,  on  the  first  day  of  January  last,  or  at  any  other 
time,  liable  to  DRAFT. 

"  That  this  information  has  not  been  communicated  to  the  public 
sooner  is  fully  explained  in  the  uncertainty  which  has  existed  as  to 
the  credits  which  would  be  allowed  by  the  War  Department,  the  un 
adjusted  account  between  our  own  and  neighboring  States  of  the 
volunteers  of  the  one  enlisted  in  the  regiments  of  the  other,  and  the 
incomplete  returns  of  the  new  recruits  enlisted  just  prior  to  and 
about  the  first  day  of  January,  1864. 

"  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Illinois  alone,  of  all  the  loyal  States  of 
the  Union,  furnishes  the  proud  record  of  not  only  having  escaped 
the  draft,  without  credit  for  her  old  regiments,  but  of  starting  un 
der  the  new  call  with  her  quota  largely  diminished,  by  the  credit  to 
which  she  is  entitled  by  thousands  of  veterans  already  re-enlisted. 


PROCLAMATION  OF  FEB.  THE  FOURTH.  133 

**  This  is  only  an  additional  chapter  to  the  fame  of  our  noble  State, 
promptly  and  patriotically  responding  to  every  call  of  the  Govern 
ment  for  men — and  men,  too,  whose  valor,  endurance,  prompt  obe 
dience,  noble  daring  and  brilliant  achievements  are  unsurpassed  by 
those  of  any  State  in  the  Union. 

"  I  cannot  forbear  to  refer  specially  to  the  cheerful  re-enlistment 
of  our  old  regiments.  Those  so  designated  are  the  regiments  of  in 
fantry  numbered  the  7th,  8th,  9th,  10th,  llth  and  12th — organized 
under  the  call  of  the  President,  of  April  15,  1861,  for  75,000  three 
months'  volunteers,  and  were  the  first  in  the  field — and  reorganized 
in  July  and  August,  1861,  for  three  years'  service — the  13th,  14th, 
15th,  16th,  17th  and  18th  regiments,  which  were  first  organized  un 
der  provisions  of  an  act  passed  by  an  extraordinary  session  of  the 
General  Assembly  of  Illinois,  convened  April  23,  1861,  in  anticipa 
tion  of  future  calls  of  the  Government  for  troops,  and  which  organi 
zations  were  preserved  intact  in  State  camps  until  the  latter  part  of 
that  month,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  as  organ 
ized  under  the  law  referred  to.  All  the  other  mentioned  regiments 
were  organized  in  pursuance  of  the  calls  of  the  President  and  orders 
of  the  War  Department,  based  on  the  laws  of  Congress  of  that  year. 

"  The  infantry  regiments  at  the  the  time  of  organization,  and  since, 
have  contained  38,173,  and  the  cavalry  7,477;  aggregate  45,650 
men,  and  now  comprise : 

"THE  VETERAN  ROLL  OF  HONOR  OF  ILLINOIS. 

"The  7th,  8th,  9th,  10th,  llth,  12th,  13th,  14th,  15th,  16th,  17th,  18th,  26th,  29th, 
30th,  31st,  32d,  33d,  34th,  36th,  39th,  40th,  41st,  43d,  44th,  45th,  46th,  48th,  49th, 
60th,  52d,  53d,  54th,  57th,  58th,  62d,  64th  and  66th  infantry;  2d,  4th,  8th,  9th, 
10th  and  12th  cavalry. 

"  The  old  regiments  not  yet  reported  as  having  re-enlisted  are  the  19th,  20th, 
'21st,  22d,  23d,  24th,  25th,  27th,  35th,  37th,  38th,  42d,  47th,  51st,  55th,  56th,  59th, 
60th,  61st,  63d,  65th  regiments  of  infantry,  and  the  3d,  5th,  6th,  7th  and  llth  regi 
ments  of  cavalry,  and  the  1st  and  2d  regiments  of  artillery. 

"  Total  number  of  old  regiments  organized  for  three  years'  service : 

"  Infantry 59 

"Cavalry   10 

"  Artillery 2 

"Aggregate 71 


134:  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

"Number  of  regiments  re-enlisted  as  veterans: 

"Infantry 38 

"Cavalry 6 

"Aggregate 44 

"  The  order  for  re- enlistment  of  veteran  volunteers,  issued  on  the 
llth  day  of  September,  1863,  and  the  rapidity  with  which  they  have 
responded,  is  a  striking  evidence  of  the  attachment  to  the  service,  and 
the  esteem  and  respect  which  our  general,  field,  staff  and  line  officers 
have  inspired  in  the  ranks  of  our  invincible  armies,  and  above  all,  the 
appreciation  they  have  of  the  magnitude  of  the  issue  at  stake.  The 
most  cheering  intelligence  is  also  received  from  the  regiments  not 
officially  reported  as  re-enlisted.  They  are  all  made  of  the  same  in 
vincible  material,  and  I  doubt  not,  that  every  regiment  will  retain 
its  number,  and  soon  wheel  gloriously  into  the  veteran  line. 

"  Though  absent  for  years  from  their  homes  and  everything  held 
most  sacred  and  dear,  and  exposed  to  untried,  rigid  discipline,  and 
dangers  of  every  kind,  decimated  by  disease  and  death  on  the  bat 
tle  field,  these  veterans  return  with  their  old  banners,  which  they 
have  borne  aloft  amid  shot  and  shell,  and  the  cloud  and  smoke  of 
"many  victorious  battle  fields,  to  receive  the  welcome  and  congratula 
tions  of  their  loyal  countrymen,  and  for  only  a  brief  furlough  to  en 
joy  the  sweets  of  home  and  friends,  again  to  return  to  meet  the  foe 
and  fight  on  until  the  last  rebel  shall  have  laid  down  his  arms,  and 
the  rightful  authority  of  the  Government  shall  be  restored  over 
every  inch  of  American  soil.  They  have  come  in  contact  with  the 
enemy,  and  know  better  than  the  philosopher  at  home  that  the  rights 
of  man  and  the  power  of  the  Government  can  now  only  be  secured 
by  sword  and  cannon.  Their  devotion  to  country  is  full  of  sublim 
ity,  not  surpassed  by  that  of  the  veterans  of  the  ancient  Republics, 
whose  patriotism  and  deeds  of  valor  have  been  the  themes  for  song 
and  eloquence  for  over  a  thousand  years.  Can  the  proudest  page 
of  history  point  to  a  nation  whose  army  has  participated  in  more 
battle  fields  than  the  veteran  soldiers  of  Illinois  ?  At  Boonville, 
Carthage,  Wilson's  Creek,  Fredericktown,  Lexington,  Belmont, 
Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Pea  Ridge,  New  Madrid,  Island  No.  10, 
Shiloh,  Farmington,  Britton's  Lane,  luka,  Corinth,  Hatchie,  Parker's 
Cross  Roads,  Prairie  Grove,  Cofieeville,  Chicksaw  Bayou,  Arkan- 


PROCLAMATION  OF  FEB.  THE  FOURTH.  135 

sas  Post,  Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hills,  Big 
Black,  Siege  of  Vicksburg,  Helena,  Port  Hudson,  Jackson,  Little 
Rock,  Pine  Bluffs,  Perryville,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Lookout 
Valley,  Tuscumbia,  Mission  Ridge,  Ringgold  and  Knoxville,  in  the 
West — the  battles  of  the  Peninsular  'campaign,  Antietam,  Gettys 
burg,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Siege  of  Charleston,  on  the 
Eastern  coast,  and  other  engagements  in  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf  and  in  innumerable  skirmishes  have  these  same  returned  veterans 
of  Illinois  participated  and  borne  conspicuous  parts.  All  honor  to 
them  that  have  so  proudly  borne  themselves ;  all  honor  to  them  that 
they  still  swear  fresh  allegiance  to  their  country,  and  with  uncon- 
quered  spirit  resolve  never  to  sheath  their  swords  except  over  the 
grave  of  treason,  and  the  vindicated  authority  of  the  Government, 
and  our  glorious  Union  restored. 

"  The  quota  of  the  State  under  the  new  call  will  soon  be  an 
nounced,  and  each  county  definitely  informed  of  the  number  re 
quired,  and  I  have  no  fears  that  a  single  county  will  fail  to  fill  its 
quota.  Recruiting  will  go  on.  At  the  roll  call  of  the  State  for 
their  quota  on  the  first  day  of  March,  Illinois  will  answer  '  Here?  and 
should  the  Government,  AS  in  my  judgment  it  ought,  call  out  full 
500,000  more  men,  and,  with  demonstrated  and  overwhelming  power 
crush  out  the  last  vestige  of  the  rebellion,  in  such  an  event  Illinois 
would  again  respond  with  her  full  quota  of  as  brave,  patriotic  and 
loyal  men  as  those  who  have  reflected  such  resplendent  luster  upon 
her  arms. 

"  I  express  my  gratitude  for  the  aid  and  counsel  the  old  and  wise 
men  and  loyal  women  have  given  me  in  organizing  troops,  andca;';ng 
for  the  sick  and  wounded  of  our  State  through  the  trying  months 
we  have  passed,  and  I  now  appeal  to  the  young  men  of  Illinois  to 
join  our  veteran  heroes,  who,  on  weary  inarch  and  battle  plain,  call 
you  to  their  side.  You  have  the  renown  of  forefathers  to  sustain 
you,  and  the  consecrated  memories  of  the  noble  dead,  to  write  upon 
the  annals  of  the  Republic,  to  be  saved  by  its  citizens  in  arms.  Be 
tween  you  and  them  there  is  a  covenant,  and  you  are  pledged  by 
every  sentiment  of  loyalty  and  honor  to  God  and  country,  to  sustain 
them  in  the  hour  of  conflict.  'Tis  yours  to  accomplish  the  nr^ion 
of  the  century,  to  inspire  new  faith  in  the  capacity  of  man  for  se.f- 
govermnent,  to  preserve  the  dignity  of  labor,  and  to  transmit  to  pos- 


136  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

terity  the  free  government  of  Benjamin  Franklin  and  George  Wash 
ington.  If  you  desire  your  names  associated  with  the  glories  of  thi* 
war,  enlist  now,  for  the  signs  are  that  the  end  is  near  at  hand. 

"The  South  is  fast  becoming  convinced  that  the  cool  determined 
bravery  of  one  Northern  man  is  equal  to  the  fiery,  impetuous  valor 
and  bravado  of  one  Southern  man;  and  that  while,  day  by  day,  the- 
resources  of  the  South  in  men,  money  and  munitions  of  war  and 
supplies  are  nearing  the  point  of  final  exhaustion,  the  arm  of  the 
loyal  States  is  daily  being  strengthened,  the  credit  of  the  Govern 
ment  is  unimpaired,  the  preparations  for  prosecuting  the  war  on  the 
land  and  on  the  sea  are  constantly  increasing,  and  scarcely  any  limit 
can  be  assigned  to  the  number  of  men  which  the  Government  may 
call  to  its  aid.  The  doom  of  the  rebellion  is  inevitable.  It  can,  to 
say  the  least,  only  be  a  question  of  time. 

"  Then  fill  up  the  ranks — reinforce  the  column  still  advancing — and 
by  strength  of  strong  arms  in  the  field,  and  patriotic  sentiments  at 
home,  fill  every  village  and  hamlet,  claimed  by  traitors,  with  the  old 
flag  and  anthems  of  VICTORY,  FREEDOM,  and  NATIONAL  UNION. 

"  I  submit  herewith  the  Report  of  Adjutant-General  Allen  C.  Fuller, 
who,  in  the  organization  of  our  regiments,  has  labored  faithfully,  and 
brought  great  energy,  efficiency  and  ability  in  the  discharge  of  all  the 
varied  and  complicated  duties  of  the  Adjutant-General's  office.  To 
him,  and  assistants  in  office,  and  to  my  own  staff,  am  I  much  indebted 
for  the  success  which  has  crowned  my  labors  in  raising,  organizing 
and  responding  to  all  the  demands  of  the  large  number  of  troops 
which  Illinois  has  sent  to  the  field. 

"  RICHARD  YATES,  Governor." 

ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  REPORT. 


"  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,  ) 


"Springfield,  February  1,  1864. 
"  His  EXCELLENCY,  GOVERNOR  YATES  : 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  copies  of  communications 
from  the  War  Department,  showing  the  quotas  of  this  State  for  three 
y«»n'-r'  volunteers,  under  all  calls  of  the  Federal  Government,  to  be 
ae>  follows : 


137 

"Total  quotas  under  calls  of  1861 47,875 

"Quota  under  call  of  July,  1862 26,148 

"Quota  under  call  of  August  1862,  of  126,148  nine  months'  men,  equiv 
alent  to 6,537 

32,681 

"  Quota  under  draft  call  of  1863 36,700 

"Quota  under  call  for  300,000,  October  17,  1863 27,930 

64,000 


"  Grand  total 145,100 

"The  calls  of  1861  and  1862  were  based  upon  population.  The 
calls  of  1863  were  based  upon  first-class  enrollment. 

"When  the  last  call  was  made,  in  October  last,  the  State  had  been 
credited  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  three  hundred  and 
twenty-one  (125, 321),  being  a  surplus  of  eight  thousand  one  hundred 
and  fifty-one  (8,151)  over  previous  calls,  and  leaving  the  balance  of 
our  quota,  under  that  call,  of  nineteen  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
seventy-nine  (19,779),  but  subject  to  a  further  reduction  to  the  ex 
tent  of  all  volunteers  furnished,  but  not  therefore  credited. 

"  To  ascertain  what  this  further  reduction  should  be,  by  showing 
the  number  who  had  entered  the  service  and  had  not  been  included 
in  the  above  general  credit  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand 
three  hundred  and  twenty-one  (125,321),  became  a  duty  of  grave 
importance  to  the  people  of  the  State,  and,  on  account  of  defective 
and  irregular  returns  from  mustering  officers,  one  of  considerable 
difficulty. 

"In  my  report  of  January  1,  1863,  the  number  of  three  years' 
volunteers  furnished  by  the  State  prior  to  that  time,  and  of  which 
returns  were  then  on  file,  was  stated  at  one  hundred  and  thirty 
thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty-nine  (130,539).  In  addition  to  this 
it  was  believed  that  several  thousand  had  joined  our  old  regiments 
in  the  field,  from  which  no  satisfactory  returns  have  been  received, 
and  it  was  known  that  between  the  first  of  January  and  the  first  of 
October  several  hundred  had  been  mustered  in  the  State. 

"  A  thorough  revision  of  rolls,  which  had  been  commenced  in 
June  last,  has  been  completed ;  additional  returns  from  regiments  in 
the  field  have  been  sent  for  and  received ;  a  re-examination  of  the 
rolls  and  returns  of  volunteers  furnished  by  the  State  has  been  made 


138  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

by  the  War  Department,  and  the  result  is  an  additional  credit  for 
volunteers,  furnished  by  this  State  prior  to  the  last  call  of  ten 
thousand  nine  hundred  and  forty-seven  (10,947)  secured,  making  a 
total  credit  IN  OUR  OWN  REGIMENTS  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-six 
thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight  (136,268). 

"In  July  last,  I  made  an  arrangement  with  Gen.  John  B.  Gray, 
Adjutant- General  of  Missouri,  to  ascertain  the  number  of  citizens 
of  Illinois  who  had  enlisted  in  Missouri  regiments,  arid  the  number 
of  citizens  of  Missouri  who  had  enlisted  in  Illinois  regiments,  with 
the  agreement,  that  when  the  same  should  be  ascertained,  that,  with 
the  approval  of  the  War  Department,  each  State  should  be  credited 
with  its  own  volunteers. 

"  On  the  10th  day  of  August  last,  a  partial  settlement  was  made, 
which  showed  a  balance  in  favor  of  this  State  of  three  thousand  one 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  (3,129).  This  was  placed  to  the  credit  of 
this  State  by  the  War  Department  on  the  27th  of  last  November. 
During  the  month  of  December,  the  rolls  of  Illinoisans  in  Missouri 
regiments,  through  the  courtesy  of  the  Adjutant-General  of  Mis 
souri,  were  copied  by  employees  of  this  Department.  The  result  of 
that  examination  shows  that  six  thousand  and  thirty-two  (6,032-)  cit 
izens  of  this  State  have  enlisted  in  Missouri  regiments,  and  sixteen 
hundred  and  fifty-nine  (1,659)  citizens  of  Missouri  have  enlisted  in 
Illinois  regiments ;  giving  the  State  of  Illinois  an  additional  credit 
from  this  source  of  twelve  hundred  and  forty-four  (1,244),  making  a 
total  on  this  account  of  four  thousand  three  hundred  and  seventy- 
three  (4,373),  and  which  has  been  credited  to  this  State. 

"  From  the  foregoing  it  will  be  seen  that  our  quota,  under  all  calls, 
is  one  hundred  and  forty-five  thousand  one  hundred  (145,100). 

"  Amount  of  credits  for  enlistments  in  our  regiments,  136,268; 
balance  in  Missouri  regiments  prior  to  last  call,  4,373 — 140,641 ; 
leaving  a  balance  under  the  last  call  of  4,459,  instead  of  nineteen 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine  (19,779). 

"  There  yet  remains  an  unadjusted  claim  of  the  State  of  three 
thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-four  (3,264)  for  volunteers  furnished 
prior  to  the  first  of  last  October.  The  officers  of  the  War  Depart 
ment  have  cordially  co-operated  with  me  in  arriving  at  a  satisfac 
tory  adjustment  of  differences,  and  I  am  under  special  obligations 
to  Major  Thomas  M.  Vincent,  Assistant  Adjutant-General  at  Wash- 


139 

ington,  for  his  prompt  assistance  in  endeavoring  to  do  full  justice  to 
the  State.  I  have,  therefore,  no  doubt  but  the  above  three  thousand 
two  hundred  and  sixty-four  (3,264)  will  soon  be  placed  to  our  credit 
Without,  however,  including  this  last  number,  and  exclusive  of  re- 
enlistments  of  old  regiments,  most  of  whom  have  re-enlisted  as  vet 
erans,  I  am  happy  to  inform  you  that  from  muster  rolls  returned  to 
this  office  since  the  last  call,  it  is  certain,  beyond  all  doubt,  that  on 
the  first  day  of  last  month  our  quota  was  more  than  filled  by  en 
listments  made  prior  to  that  date. 

"  As  you  were  absent  the  first  time  the  call  was  made,  and  for  some 
time  thereafter,  I  felt  very  greatly  embarrassed  concerning  the  poli 
cy  which  should  be  adopted  under  that  call.  My  records  showed 
over  fourteen  thousand  more  than  the  War  Department  had  placed 
to  our  credit.  An  adjustment  with  Missouri  had  not  been  comple 
ted,  and  no  reliable  estimate  could  be  made  with  counties  until  the 
general  balance  against  the  State  could  be  substantially  determined. 
According  to  my  books  forty-seven  counties  had  furnished  their  quo 
tas,  and  fifty-five  were  behind.  A  part  of  the  latter,  however,  would 
be  relieved  from  the  deficit  against  them  if  they  could  have  the 
credit  for  such  of  their  citizens  as  had  enlisted  in  the  regiments  in 
other  States ;  but  whether  such  credits  could  be  secured  was  uncer 
tain.  To  protect  such,  however,  as  far  as  possible  against  draft,  an 
equivalent  of  volunteers  from  other  States  in  our  regiments  was  re 
served  until  a  settlement  could  be  made  with  such  States. 

"  Under  this  state  of  things,  to  have  published  my  estimates,  doubt 
less  would  have  misled  some  and  might  have  deceived  all.  If  con 
fidence  had  been  placed  in  them,  officers  recruiting  in  counties  which 
had  raised  their  quotas  might  have  been  compelled  to  close  their 
offices,  and  in  some  few  counties  largely  behind,  it  was  feared  that 
a  knowledge  of  the  extent  of  their  deficit,  unaccompanied  by  an  as 
surance  that  a  less  number  might,  by  saving  the  State  from  a  draft, 
protect  them,  would  discourage  authorities  from  making  vigorous 
local  efforts  to  aid  enlistments. 

"  General  Order  No.  43,  was  issued  October  24th,  announcing  the 
quota  of  this  State  under  the  call ;  and  yet  only  about  five  hundred 
were  mustered  during  the  months  of  October  and  November,  and 
recruiting  had  but  slightly  improved  prior  to  December  20th.  To 
raise  19,779  by  common  consent  was  deemed  impossible,  and  men 


140  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

of  all  parties  seemed,  by  their  inaction,  to  invite  a  draft.  In  fact, 
many  very  worthy  citizens  insisted  that  a  "  draft  was  a  good  thing 
to  have  in  this  State. 

"About  the  20th  of  December,  therefore,  the  public  were  inform 
ed  that  a  part  of  the  deficiency  had  been  satisfactorily  adjusted  with 
the  War  Department,  and  a  part  of  the  credits  claimed  from  Missou 
ri  had  been  placed  to  our  credit.  Counties  appearing  most  behind 
hand  were  notified  of  their  deficit,  and  assured  that  by  vigorous  ef 
forts  in  raising  a  reasonable  portion  of  that  number,  the  State  would 
probably  escape  a  draft.  Counties  which  applied  for  information 
on  the  subject,  were  informed  of  the  probabilities  of  their  situation, 
but  urged  to  continue  their  enlistments  and  aid  counties  behind  in 
saving  the  State  from  a  draft.  While  no  information  in  my  posses 
sion  was  refused,  none  was  tendered  to  counties  which  had  furnished 
their  quotas,  because  it  seemed  probable  that  the  balance  of  the  quo 
ta  of  the  State  would  not  be  raised  unless  counties  which  had  furn 
ished  their  quota  aided  those  who  had  not. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  herewith  a  tabular  statement  show 
ing—* 

"  FIRST — The  population  of  each  county  in  the  State  according  to 
census  of  1860. 

"  SECOND — The  number  of  persons  in  each  county  liable  to  mili 
tary  duty,  according  to  first  class  enrollment  taken  by  the  Federal 
authorities  in  1863. 

"THIRD — The  total  quotas  of  each  county  in  the  years  1861,  1862 
and  1863,  inclusive  of  the  call  of  October  17,  1863. 

"FOURTH — The  number  of  three  years' volunteers  furnished  by 
each  county  prior  to  October  1,  1863,  inclusive  of  those  enlisted  in 
Missouri  regiments,  and  exclusive  of  those  enlisted  in  regiments  of 
other  States  than  our  own  and  Missouri. 

"  FIFTH — The  number  of  volunteers  in  Illinois  regiments  furnish 
ed  prior  to  October  1,  1863,  by  other  States  (exclusive  of  Missouri). 
This  number  is  believed  to  be  about  the  same  as  those  furnished  by 
this  State  to  regiments  of  the  same  States.  A  settlement  with 
such  States  will  be  made  at  the  earliest  practicable  period. 

"  In  submitting  said  tabular  statement,  it  is  proper  to  add  that  in 

*  See  Appendix  A. 


ADJtlTANT-GENEiiAL'S    REPORT.  141 

reply  to  a  telegram  of  yours  of  the  16th  ultimo,  inquiring  whether 
the  War  Department  proposed  to  ascertain  and  determine  the  num 
ber  of  volunteers  furnished  by  each  county  prior  to  last  call,  or 
whether  it  would  adopt  the  adjustment  with  each  county  made  by 
you,  the  Provost  Marshal  General,  under  date  of  the  18th  ultimo, 
states^  the  "  War  Department  docs  not  propose  to  attempt  the  ascer 
tainment  of  the  number  of  volunteers  furnished  by  each  county  in 
Illinois  prior  to  the  last  call,"  as  "  no  account  prior  to  the  last  call 
wras  kept  by  the  War  Department  with  counties,  the  record  being 
kept  only  with  the  State  at  large.  Expressing  the  opinion  that  on 
account  of  the  hurried  manner  in  which  volunteers  rushed  to  arms 
in  the  early  stages  of  the  rebellion,  rfo  State  can  "  ascertain  the  num 
ber  furnished  by  each  county  and  locality  prior  to  the  last  call,"  the 
Provost  Marshal  General  adds,  that  "  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  would 
be  more  just  and  satisfactory  if  it  could  be  done  ;"  and  if  the  State 
can  show  what  proportion  of  all  men  furnished  by  it  prior  to  the 
last  call  properly  belongs  to  each  county,  he  presumes  the  "  War 
Department  would  adopt  your  report  on  this  subject." 

"  Prior  to  the  last  call,  the  law  did  not  require  the  War  Depart 
ment  to  keep  a  record  of  the  residence  of  volunteers  at  the  time  of 
their  enlistment.  Keither,  by  any  law  or  regulation  except  my  own 
Was  I  obliged  to  keep  such  a  record.  Anticipating,  however,  that 
this  information  might  be  interesting  to  the  people  of  the  State,  if 
not  indispensably  necessary  to  protect  a  portion  of  them  from  con 
tributing  more  than  their  just  proportion  of  volunteers  in  prosecuting 
the  war,  I  have  attempted  to  keep  such  a  record.  For  more  than 
thirty  months  I  have  endeavored  to  perfect  it.  Regiments  which 
had  taken  the  field  prior  to  my  appointment,  and  many  of  which,  on 
account  of  the  hurried  manner  in  wThich  they  were  ordered  away, 
not  even  a  muster-in  roll  was  on  file,  I  have  supplied  with  descrip 
tive  rolls,  containing  a  column  of  their  residence ;  and  our  new  regi 
ments  have  been  required,  when  practicable,  to  furnish  such  rolls  be 
fore  receiving  their  commissions.  Blanks  for  men  joining  our  regi 
ments  in  the  field,  subsequent  to  organization,  have  alsc>  been  furnish 
ed.  These  blanks  have  been  filled  up  by  inserting,  among  other 
things,  the  name,  rank,  description  of  person,  occupation,  nativity, 
and  RESIDENCE  of  each  man,  and  returned  to  this  office.  I  have 
labored  in  vain,  unless  by  this  means  I  have  succeeded  in  securing  a 


142  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

record  of  our  volunteers  which  is  substantially  correct.  And  I  take 
pleasure  in  here  stating,  that  I  am  much  indebted  to  our  command 
ing  officers  for  their  cheerful  co-operation  in  completing  the  record 
of  troops  whom  they  have  had  the  honor  to  command. 

"  Since  the  accompanying  statement  was  prepared,  notice  has  been 
received  that  a  draft  will  be  made  on  the  10th  proximo  for  five  hun 
dred  thousand  men,  c crediting  and  deducting  therefrom'  so  many 
as  may  have  been  enlisted  or  drafted  into  the  service  prior  to  the 
first  proximo.  This  is  equivalent  to  a  call  of  two  hundred  thousand 
more.  As  soon  as  the  quota  of  this  State  is  announced,  and  the 
basis  upon  which  the  call  is  made  known,  I  will  submit  to  you  a 
statement  of  quotas  of  each  county  under  such  call,  and,  as  far  as 
possible,  the  number  of  enlistments  since  the  first  of  October  last. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient 
servant,  ALLEN  C.  FULLER,  Adjutant- General." 


OHAPTEE    VIII. 

THE  PRECEDING  CHAPTERS — INSERTION  OF  DOCUMENTS — BAFFLED  SCHEMES — CLOSE 
OF  FIRST  GREAT  EPOCH — ADMINISTRATION  ON  TRIAL— THE  ISSUES — THE  DECISION- 
TUB  EIGHTH  OF  NOVEMBER — TWENTY-SEVEN  YEARS,  OR  FROM  LOVEJOY  TO  LINCOLN- 
OGLESBY  AND  BROSS — YATES — His  FINAL  MESSAGE— QUOTATIONS— EDUCATION— PRIN 
CIPLES — CHURCHES — BENEVOLENT  ORGANIZATIONS — SANITARY  AND  CHRISTIAN  COMMIS 
SIONS — FREEDMEN'S  AID  SOCIETIES — SOLDIERS'  HOMES — THE  HAND  OF  PROVIDENCE — 
FINANCE — IMPLEMENTAL  INDUSTRY — NEGRO  AND  MACHINERY — NORTHERN  PLANTERS- — 
THE  SEWING  MACHINE— ACHIEVEMENTS  OF  THE  YEAR — PROSPECTS. 

THE  past  few  chapters  have  been  necessarily  fragmentary,  and 
have  been  broken  by  the  insertion  of  documents  which,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  author,  are  worthy  of  preservation,  and  are  essen 
tial  to  the  understanding  of  the  facts  of  the  history.  The  people 
speak  by  their  votes ;  the  Government  by  its  official  acts.  It  is  due 
to  the  men  in  authority  in  each  great  crisis,  that  after-generations 
shall  know  how  they  bore  themselves,  how  they  met  its  grave  re 
sponsibilities.  "No  man  liveth  unto  himself,  and  no  man  dieth 
unto  himself,"  is  the  teaching  of  Holy  Writ.  The  patriots  of  this 
age  and  of  this  war  are  nerved  by  the  record  of  the  patriots  of  the 
past.  Thus  one  generation  speaks  to  another. 

It  is  well  that  the  record  of  this  State  stands  so  fairly.  We  have 
seen  how  adverse  legislation,  which  trifled  with  destiny,  and  played 
disgraceful  antics  amid  throes  and  upheavals,  which  insisted  upon 
fiddling  during  the  conflagration,  was  baffled  by  the  decision  and 
stern  promptness  of  the  Executive.  Thus  w^e  thwarted  schemes 
which  threatened  mischief,  and  the  people  rejoiced  that  disgrace 
was  wiped  from  the  State's  escutcheon. 

Before  tracing  the  war  path  of  the  men  who  rallied  to  the  call  of  the 
country,  it  is  well  to  bring  this  general  resume  down  to  the  close  of 
1864,  marking,  as  it  does,  the  termination  of  the  first  great  epoch  of 
the  war,  signal  in  the  history  of  the  Republic  for  the  judgment  of 


144  fATKlOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS, 

the  Nation  upon  the  Administration,  and  that  of  the  State,  by  the 
close  of  the  official  control  of  Governor  Yates. 

As  to  the  former,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  nominated  for  re-election  upon 
a  platform  which  endorsed  all  the  debatable  points  of  his  adminis 
tration.  A  platform  which  pronounced  the  war  upon  the  side  of 
the  Government  just,  and  declared  that  it  should  go  forward  until 
the  rebellion  should  be  overthrown;  approved  the  Proclamation  of 
Emancipation,  and  the  arming  of  negroes  and  their  employment  as 
soldiers  of  the  Republic,  and  pronounced  in  favor  of  an  amendment 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  StateSj  which  should  abolish  hu 
man  slavery  throughout  the  States  and  Territories  of  the  Union.  It 
also  denied,  in  the  broadest  and  most  emphatic  manner,  the  right  of 
secession,  and  insisted  upon  the  paramount  authority  of  the  Federal 
Union. 

Nominated  at  a  convention  held  in  Chicago,  the  opposing  candi 
date  was  Major-General  George  B.  McClellan,  a  gentleman  who,  at 
one  time,  had  been  in  chief  command  of  the  Union  armies,  and 
whose  military  ability  many,  both  of  the  army  and  in  civil  life, 
claimed  to  be  superior  to  that  of  any  other  leader  of  our  forces. 
His  platform  declared  for  the  Union,  but  intimated  that  the  war 
had  failed ;  and  suggested  a  "  cessation  of  hostilities  "  until  diplo 
macy  should  attempt  the  restoration  of  peace.  It  made  its  appeal 
for  the  freedom  of  speech  and  press,  and  against  military  despotism, 
The  General,  in  his  letter  of  acceptance,  gave  the  most  patriotic 
possible  construction  to  the  platform,  and  thus  enabled  many  thous 
ands  opposed  to  the  platform  to  cast  their  votes  for  its  candidate,- 
Thus  went  the  war  policy  of  the  President  to  the  court  of  last  re 
sort,  the  ballot-box,  and  on  the  8th  day  of  November,  1864,  the  de 
cision  was  given,  and  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  was  re-elected  President 
of  the  United  States.  It  was  an  emphatic  endorsement  of  his  poli 
cy,  including  Emancipation  and  the  arming  of  Freedmen ! 

As  an  evidence  of  the  growth  of  a  high  moral  sentiment  in  Illi 
nois  within  thirty  years,-  it  may  be  stated  that  on  the  8th  day  of 
November,  1837,  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Lovejoy,  editor  of  an  anti-slavery 
journal,  Was  shot  to  death  in  the  city  of  Alton,  nor  were  his  murder 
ers  harmed  by  the  process  of  law.  Twenty-seven  years  later  to  a 
day,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN  was  re-elected  President  of  the  United 


GOVERNOR'S  MESSAGE.  145 

States  on  a  radical  anti-slavery  platform,  with  an  endorsement  of 
military  emancipation  and  the  arming  of  freedmen  ;  and  Illinois, 
whose  soil  had  been  watered  by  the  blood  of  Lovejoy,  gave  him  a 
majority  of  more  than  30,000!  One  must  think  of  the  words  of 
poor  Galileo,  manacled,  and  humiliated  as  he  paced  his  way  to 
his  cell,  "the  world  does  move  though" 

At  the  same  time,  and  by  about  the  same  majority,  Richard  J. 
Oglesby,  late  a  gallant  Major- General  of  volunteers,  and  who  had 
been  scarred  on  more  than  one  hotly-fought  battle  field,  was  chosen 
Governor,  as  the  successor  of  Richard  Yates,  and  Wm.  Bross,  one 
of  the  editors  of  a  radically  anti-slavery  sheet,  was  elected  Lieutenant- 
Governor,  with  a  General  Assembly  which  should  choose  Richard 
Yates  to  occupy  the  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate;  so  long  filled 
by  Stephen  A.  Douglas. 

Verily,  time  is  an  inexorable  Nemesis.  From  Lovejoy  dead  to 
Lincoln  and  Oglesby,  only  twenty-seven  years! 

The  final  message  of  Governor  Yates  was  delivered  to  the  Gen 
eral  Assembly  on  the  3d  of  January,  1865,  and  reviewed  the  two 
years  preceding.  It  summed  the  State  resources  and  liabilities; 
gave  the  evidence  that  through  the  war  the  State  had  steadily  ad 
vanced  in  the  great  material  and  educational  interests  essential  to 
her  prosperity. 

He  thus  aggregates  the  State  contributions  of  men  to  the  national 
armies : 

"  The  following  exhibits  the  quotas  of  the  States  under  respective 
calls  since  the  commencement  of  the  war,  and  the  number  of  men 
furnished  to  the  national  armies  up  to  the  present  time : 

"  Our  quota,  under  calls  of  the  President 

"  In  1861,  was 47,785 

"  In  1862,    "    32,685 

"In  1863,    "    64,630 

"  In  1864,    "    52,260 

"  Total  quotas  under  all  calls  prior  to  Dec.  1, 1864 197,360 

"During  the  years  1861,  1862,  and  to  the  18th  day  of  October, 
1863,  the  State,  by  voluntary  enlistment,  had  exceeded  its  quota 
under  all  calls.  Prior  to  that  date  settlements  had  not  been  made 

with  the  War  Department,  because  of  the  voluntary  action  of  our 
10 


140  PATEIOTISM  OF  LILINOIS. 

people  in  meeting  the  requirements  of  the  country  and  their  per>ist- 
ence  in  organizing,  with  unparalleled  enthusiasm  and  determination, 
a  larger  number  of  regiments  and  batteries  than  the  actual  quotas 
under  each  levy  called  for.  Prior  to  17th  October,  1863,  the  State 
had  furnished  and  been  credited  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
thousand  threo  hundred  and  twenty-one  (125,321)  men — a  surplus  of 
eight  thousand  one  hundred  and  fifty-one  (8,151)  over  all  other  calls, 
to  be  credited  to  our  quota  for  that  call,  and  which  reduced  it  to 
19,779  men;  and  we  claimed,  besides,  other  credits,  which  could 
not  be  fully  adjusted  because  of  imperfect  record  of  citizens  (and  in 
some  cases  whole  companies  of  Illinoisans)  who  had  entered  the  ser 
vice  in  regiments  of  other  States,  at  times  when  our  quotas  on  spe 
cial  calls  were  full,  and  because  of  which  I  was  compelled  to  decline 
their  services.  Six  thousand  and  thirty-two  (6,032)  citizens  of  Illi 
nois  prior  to  that  date  had  been  enlisted  in  Missouri  regiments,  and 
residents  of  Missouri  had  enlisted  and  been  mustered  into  Illinois 
regiments,  which  left  a  credit,  as  between  the  States,  in  favor  of  Ill 
inois  of  4,373  men. 

"After  adjustment  of  credit  of  125,321,  at  and  prior  to  October, 
1863,  it  was  ascertained  we  were  entitled  to  an  additional  credit  of 
10,947,  which  increased  the  number  enrolled  in  our  own  regiments, 
and  for  which  we  were  entitled  to  credit  prior  to  that  call,  to  136,- 
268 — leaving  the  whole  account,  at  that  date,  thus  : 

"  Quotas  under  calls  to  October,  1863 145,100 

"  Credits  for  enlistments  in  Illinois  regiments 136,268 

"  Balance  in  Missouri  regiments 4,373 

—140,000 


"  Balance  due  the  Government 4,459 

"  At  this  time  there  was  a  claim  made  by  the  State  for  volunteers 
previously  furnished,  which  would  more  than  account  for  the  bal* 
ance  against  us  of  4,459.  This  adjustment  was  made  in  February, 
1864,  and  was  exclusive  of  old  regiments  re-enlisting  as  veterans, 
and  disclosed  the  fact  that  at  the  time  the  first  draft  was  ordered, 
viz.,  January  1,  1864,  under  the  call  of  October,  1863,  Illinois  had 
exceeded  her  quota,  and,  by  the  voluntarily  demonstrated  patriotism 
of  her  people,  was  free  from  draft. 


MESSAGE.  147 

unadjusted  balances  of  the  State  claimed  as  above  were  al 
lowed  in  the  settlement  made  with  the  War  Department  in  August 
last. 

"  Between  the  first  day  of  October,  1663,  and  the  first  day  of  De 
cember,  1864,  we  have  furnished  and  received  additional  credits  for 
fifty-five  thousand  six  hundred  and  nineteen  (55,619)  men,  which, 
added  to  credit  of  140,641  to  October  1,  1863,  makes  197,260  men, 
which  leaves  our  whole  account  thus : 

"  Quotas  of  the  State  under  all  calls  prior  to  Dec.  1,  1864.  .197,362 
'"  Total  credits  for  three  years'  volunteers,  drafted  men  and 

substitutes  to  Dec.  1,  1864 197,260 


"  Balance  due  the  Government  Dec.  1,  1864. 100 

"  The  deficit  of  one  hundred  men  has  been  more  than  balanced 
by  enlistments  during  the  month  of  December,  1864. 

"  Of  the  entire  quota  of  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  thousand 
three  hundred  and  sixty  (197,360)  men,  we  have  furnished  one  hun 
dred  and  ninety -four  thousand  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight 
(194,198)  volunteers,  and  three  thousand  and  sixty -two  (3,062) 
•drafted  men — organized  as  follows : 

"138  regiments  and  one  battalion  of  infantry. 
"17  regiments  of  cavalry. 
"  2  regiments  and  8  batteries  of  artillery. 

«  ONE  HUNDRED  DAY  TROOPS. 

"In  addition  to  the  foregoing  the  State  has  furnished  thirteen  (13) 
Regiments  and  two  companies  of  one  hundred  day  volunteers,  the 
following  being  the  numerical  designation,  name  of  commanding 
officer  and  strength  of  each : 

No.  Regiment,  Commanding  Officer.  Aggregate, 

182 *... Col.  Thomas  J.  Pickett. 853 

133 •. Col.  Thaddeus  Phillips 851 

134 .....-.*..., Col.  Walter  W.  McChesney ......878 

135 *Col.  John  &  Wolfe . . .  ^ .855 

136 ."Col.  Frederick  A.  Johns. 842 

137. Col.  John  Wood 84« 

138 *  .Col.  John  W.  Goodwin 835 

139 .......  .  .Col.  Peter  Davidson-. ^ ............ •  .878 


148  PATRIOTISM   OF 

No.  of  Regiment.  Commanding  Officer. 

140 ...Col.  Lorenzo  H.  Whitney 871 

141 ...  < Col.  Stephen  Bronson 842 

142. ...    Col,  Rollin  Y.  Ankney 851 

143. . Col.  Dudley  C.  Smith 855 

M5 Col.  George  W.  Lackey 877 

- — , Capt.  Simon  J.  Stookey,  (Alton  bat,  2  co's) . .181 

Total , 11,328 

"After  the  fall  of  Vicksbiirg,  1863,  and  General  Sherman's  raid 
into  Mississippi,  Georgia  and  Alabama,  active  military  operations 
were  transferred  from  the  Mississippi  to  Eastern  Tennessee  and 
Georgia.  The  forces  of  the  enemy,  during  the  winter  of  1863-4, 
were  being  largely  increased  and  carefully  prepared  for  a  desperate 
spring  and  summer  campaign,  East  and  West,  and  in  April  lie  had 
concentrated  his  strength  for  offensive  operations  in  Virginia  and 
Georgia,  or,  in  the  event  of  our  advance,  for  the  most  determined 
and  bitter  resistance.  To  hold  the  vast  extent  of  country  wrested 
from  the  enemy,  embracing  many  States  and  Territories,  many 
thousand  miles  of  sea  coast,  the  whole  length  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  most  of  her  tributaries,  and  protect  our  long  line  of  sea  and 
river  coast  and  rail  communication,  required  an  immense  stationary 
force.  The  towns  and  cities  surrounding  strongholds,  posts  and; 
garrisons,  sittfated  in  the  midst  of  a  doubtful  and  in  most  part  dis 
loyal  population,  required  too  great  a  portion  of  our  large  army  for 
their  protection  and  defense.  In  view  of  these  circumstances,  and 
of  the  palpable  evidence  which  surrounded  us  that  the  battles  about 
to  be  fought  in  Virginia  by  the  army  under  direct  supervision  of 
Lieutenant-General  Grant,  and  in  Georgia  under  General  Sherman, 
would  doubtless  decide  the  fate  of  the  country,  the  Governors  of 
the  Northwestern  States  believed  that  the  efficiency  of  the  army 
and  the  prospects  of  crowning  victories  to  the  national  arms  would 
be  greatly  increased  by  a  volunteer  force,  immediately  raised,  and 
which  should  occupy  the  points  already  taken  and  relieve  our  vete 
ran  troops,  and  send  them  forward  to  join  the  main  army,  soon  t<y 
engage  the  effective  forces  of  the  enemy,  I,  therefore,  in  connection1 
with  Governors  Brough  of  Ohio,  Morton  of  Indiana,  and  Stone  of 
Iowa,  offered  the  President  infantry  troops  for  one  hundred  days7' 


LESSONS   LEARNED.  149 

•service,  to  fee  organized  under  regulations  of  the  War  Department, 
.and  to  be  clothed,  equipped,  armed,  subsisted,  transported  and  paid 
.as  other  United  States  infantry  volunteers,  and  to  serve  in  fortifica 
tions  wherever  their  services  might  be  required,  within  or  without 
the  State.  There  being  no  law  authorizing  it,  no  bounty  could  be 
paid  or  the  service  credited  on  any  draft.  Our  quota  offered  was 
20,000  men,  which  was  a  fair  proportion  to  the  aggregate  number 
(85,000)  to  be  made  up  by  all  of  said  States. 

"  Our  regiments,  under  this  call,  performed  indispensable  and  in 
valuable  services  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and  Missouri,  relieving 
garrisons  of  veteran  troops,  who  were  sent  to  the  front,  took  part 
in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  several  of  them,  also  composing  a  part 
of  that  glorious  army  that  has  penetrated  the  very  vitals  of  the  re 
bellion,  and  plucked  some  of  the  brightest  laurels  that  this  heroic 
age  has  woven  for  the  patriot  soldier.  Five  of  our  one  hundred 
days1  regiment,  after  their  term  of  service  had  expired,  voluntarily 
extended  their  engagements  with  the  Government,  and  marched  to 
the  relief  of  the  gallant  and  able  Rosecrans,  who,  at  the  head  of 
un  inadequate  and  poorly  appointed  army,  was  contending  against 
fearful  odds  for  the  preservation  of  St.  Louis  and  the  safety  of  Mis 
souri.  The  officers  and  soldiers  of  these  regiments  evinced  the 
highest  soldierly  qualities,  and  fully  sustained  the  proud  record  our 
veterans  have  ever  attained  in  the  field — and  the  State  and  country 
owe  them  lasting  gratitude,  and  we  have,  in  a  great  degree,  to  at 
tribute  our  successes  in  Virginia  and  Georgia  to  the  timely  organi 
zation  and  efficient  services  of  the  one  hundred-day  volunteers,  fur 
nished  by  all  of  said  States.  The  President  has,  by  order,  returned 
them  the  thanks  of  the  Government  and  the  nation  for  the  service 
thus  rendered,  and  accords  the  full  measure  of  praise  to  them,  as 
our  supporters  and  defenders  in  the  rear,  to  which  the  regular  re 
serve  force  of  large  armies  are  always  entitled." 

With  a  glow  of  patriotic  pride  the  Governor  thus  alludes  to  the 
'State  and  its  men : 

"  In  prompt  support  of  the  Government  at  home,  and  in  response 
to  calls  for  troops,  the  State  stands  pre-eminently  in  the  lead  among 
her  loyal  sisters ;  and  every  click  of  the  telegraph  heralds  the  per- 
severance  of  Illinois  Generals  and  the  indomitable  courage  and  bra 
very  of  Illinois'  sonsfl  in  every  engagement  of  the  war.  Our  State 


150  PATErOTTSM   OF 

has  furnished  a  very  large  contingent  to  the  fighting  strength  of  our 
National  army.  In  the  West,  the  history  of  the  war  is  brilliant 
with  recitations  of  the  skill  and  prowess  of  our  general,  field,  staff 
and  line  officers,  and  hundreds  of  Illinois  boys  in  the  ranks  are  spe 
cially  singled  out  and  commended  by  Generals  Grant,  Sherman,  ami 
other  Generals  of  this  and  other  States,  for  their  noble  deeds  and 
manly  daring  on  hotly  contested  fields.  One  gallant  Illinois  boy  is 
mentioned  as  being  the  first  to  plant  the  stars  and  stripes  at  Don  el- 
son  ;  another,  at  a  critical  moment,  anticipated  the  commands  of  a 
superior  officer,  in  hurrying  forward  an  ammunition  train,  and  super 
vising  hand  grenades,  by  cutting  short  the  fuses  of  heavy  shell,  and 
hurling  them,  with  his  own  hands,  in  front  of  an  assaulting  column, 
into  a  strong  redoubt  at  Vicksburg ;  and  the  files  of  my  office  and 
those  of  the  Adjutant-General  are  full  of  letters  mentioning  for  pro 
motion  hundreds  of  private  soldiers,  who  have,  on  every  field  of  the 
war,  distinguished  themselves  by  personal  gallantry,  at  trying  and 
critical  periods.  The  list  of  promotions  from  the  field  and  staff  of 
our  regiments  to  Lieutenant  and  Major-Generals,  for  gallant  conduct, 
and  the  prerequisites  for  efficient  and  successful  command,  compare 
brilliantly  with  the  names  supplied  by  all  other  States,  and  is  posi 
tive  proof  of  the  wisdom  of  the  Government  in  conferring  honors 
and  responsibilities  ;  and  the  patient,  vigilant  and  tenacious  record 
made  by  our  veteran  regiments,  in  the  camp,  on  the  march  and  in 
the  field,  is  made  a  subject  of  praise  by  the  whole  country,  and  will 
be  the  theme  for  poets  and  historians  of  all  lands,  for  all  time." 

During  the  time  which  had  elapsed  since  the  commencement  of 
hostilities,  the  people  of  Illinois,  with  those  of  sister  States,  had 
been  educated  in  many  good  things. 

They  had  learned  that  principle  is  mightier  than  passion.  And 
down  through  platforms  and  old  party  creeds,  through  prejudices  of 
long  years  standing,  they  had  digged  to  the  rock  of  EIGHT.  "  Ex 
pediency  "  had  lost  its  old  potency,  and  "  Compromise  "  its  caba 
listic  charm,  and  RIGHT  had  become  the  people's  watchword. 

The  Churches  had  made  a  noble  record,  yet  to  be  written  ere 
these  volumes  are  completed.  The  ministry  had  been  clothed  with 
new  eloquence,  and  church  councils  had  spoken  with  a  majesty  and 
authority  very  different  from  the  apologetic  and  cringing  tones  of 


ORGANIZED    BENEVOLENT   ACTION.  151 

thirty  years  sooner.  They  had  presented  the  claims  of  the  country 
in  solemn  conclaves,  and  denounced  treason  as  a  deadly  sin.  They 
had  given,  from  the  most  sacred  altars,  their  best  and  purest  gifts, 
and  thus  represented  on  the  field,  at  home  they  remembered,  "  with 
out  ceasing  "  in  their  prayers,  their  imperiled  country. 

New  forms  of  organized  benevolent  action  had  sprung  into  exist 
ence.  The  " Sanitary  Commission"  the  almoner  of  the  gifts  of 
the  people,  sent  to  the  field  and  to  the  hospitals  countless  tons  of 
supplies,  not  furnished  by  the  Government,  or  furnished  but  in  scan 
ty  measure. 

The  "  Christian  Commission  "  made  herculean  efforts  to  supply 
the  spiritual  wants  of  the  soldiers,  sending  them  books,  magazines, 
and  the  newspapers  which  had  paid  them  regular  visits  at  their 
homes,  and  also  dispatched  devoted  laborers,  pastors,  lay-preachers 
and  laymen,  who  gave,  unpaid,  their  services  in  organizing  religious 
instruction,  conducting  prayer  meetings,  and  rendering  service  in 
the  hospital  and  on  the  field.  A  Major-General  has  been  known  to 
dismount  amid  the  storm  of  battle,  and  thank  the  delegates  of  the 
Christian  Commission  for  their  work  among  the  wounded. 

The  "Freedmeirs  Aid  Commission"  was  working  steadily  for 
the  relief  of  those  made  free  by  the  strong  arm  of  Government, 
supplying  them  with  stores  of  food,  clothing  and  medicine,  teaching 
them  industry  and  opening  schools  for  their  education. 

These  great  organizations  will  be  noted  specifically  in  a  subse 
quent  chapter,  and  are  here  referred  to,  that  the  patriotic  devotion 
of  the  people  may  be  seen. 

Then  there  were  "Soldiers'  Homes"  and  "Soldiers'  Rests"  at 
the  principal  centers  of  travel,  where  the  defenders  of  the  country 
were  fed  and  lodged  on  their  journeys.  There  were  •'  Soldiers  Aid 
Societies  "  throughout  the  villages  and  rural  regions,  most  of  which 
were  auxiliary  to  the  Sanitary  Commission.  The  women  were  ac 
tive  in  these  movements,  and  even  the  children  caught  the  fever,  and 
juvenile  fairs  reported  handsome  sums  for  the  "  soldiers." 

The  hand  of  Providence  was  clearly  seen  in  the  preparation  of  the 
State  for  the  burdens  to  be  borne.  The  financial  crash  of  1857,  and 
the  commotion,  drove  out  the  issues  of  irresponsible  banks,  making 
the  way  smooth  for  the  national  currency  which  succeeded  it. 


152  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

The  era  of  implemental  industry  came  in  time  to  release  from  the 
necessity  of  manual  toil,  its  hardy  sons.  It  was  the  boast  of  tho> 
South,  "We  can  place  in  the  field  every  white  man,  and  our  slaves 
at  home  can  grow  and  harvest  the  food  for  his  support."  It  was  tin 
idle  boast,  for  well  they  knew  that  a  strong  contingent  of  white  men 
must  remain  to  drive  those  slaves  to  their  daily  toil,  and  prevent 
them  throwing  off  the  "  paternal  system  "  under  which  they  were 
placed.  It  was  idle  to  institute  such  a  comparison,  for  Northern  in 
genuity  and  Northern  capital  had  placed  upon  the  prairies  the  Plant 
er,  the  Cultivator,  the  Reaper,  the  Mower,  the  Thresher,  each  aug 
menting  the  power  of  the  laborer,  and  multiplying  the  ability  of  his 
pair  of  hands.  It  was  thus  the  broad  prairies  could  send  their  stal 
wart  sons  to  battle,  and  yet  yield  the  abundant  and  garnered  har 
vests  for  their  subsistence.  The  "  planter  "  of  the  North  drinks  no 
whisky  and  plays  no  cards ;  the  reaper  and  mower  never  forsake 
the  harvest  field  for  the  guidance  of  the  North  Star,  while  the  culti 
vator  and  thresher  are  in  their  place  without  the  mediation  of  rendi 
tion  laws  or  bloodhounds.  Each  laborer  became  many  in  the  power 
of  production,  aud  the  absence  of  nearly  two  hundred  thousand 
"  able-bodied  men  "  caused  no  perceptible  shrinkage  in  the  agricul 
tural  resources. 

It  has  been  a  matter  of  wonder  how  much  has  been  done  in  these 
four  years  by  women.  In  readiness  for  these  days,  the  sewing  ma 
chine  was  prepared,  and  woman's  fingers,  nimble  as  they  were,  were 
multiplied  into  tenfold  activity. 

"When  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
sixty-four  closed  upon  Illinois,  it  had  placed  at  the  service  of  the 
General  Government  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  thousand  sol 
diers,  of  whom  all  but  three  thousand  and  sixty-two  were  volun 
teers  ;  had  manifested  an  unsurpassed  liberality  in  providing  for  their 
physical,  mental  and  spiritual  wants ;  had  sustained  its  financial 
credit ;  had  maintained  its  system  of  education ;  its  schools  had 
their  teachers,  and  its  pulpits  their  ministers. 

The  arms  of  the  Republic  had  been  triumphant  under  the  heroic 
Sheridan  in  the  valleys  of  the  Luray  and  Shenandoah.  Before 
Nashville,  Thomas  had  scattered  the  grand  army  of  Hood  as  the 
chaff  of  the  summer  threshing-floor,  capturing  thousands  of  prison 
ers  and  a  hundred  cannon.  Sherman,  cutting  loose  from  his  base 


A  NEW  YEAR'S  PRESENT.  153 

of  supplies,  had  marched  his  forces  from  Atlanta  through  the  heart 
of  the  Confederacy,  "subsisting  them"  as  they  went,  not  upon 
"  hard  tack,"  but  upon  the  fullness  of  their  enemies,  and  resting 
them  within  the  fortifications  of  captured  Savannah,  which  he  an 
nounced  as  a  "  New  Year's  present  "  to  the  President.  The  army 
of  Lee  was  held  motionless  in  Richmond,  and  in  the  rebel  Congress 
and  among  its  authorities  there  was  dissension. 

Worthy  were  the  above  triumphs  to  be  recorded  on  the  same  page 
with  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  the  victory  at  Chattanooga,  and  the 
brilliant  charge  and  carrying  of  Missionary  Ridge,  of  the  preceding 
year.  It  was  no  longer  heard  that  one  Southerner  was  superior  in  prow 
ess  to  five  Yankees  !  That  miserable  bluster  had  ceased.  The  world, 
too,  had  learned  that  we  so  appreciate  our  Government  as  to  think 
no  price  too  great  for  its  preservation. 

The  outward  signs  warranted  the  closing  paragraphs  of  Governor 
Yates'  last  message. 

"Now  I  am  here  to-day  to  say  in  behalf  of  the  loyal  millions  of 
Illinois,  and  I  trust  this  General  Assembly  is  prepared  to  say,  and 
to  throw  in  the  face  of  Jeff.  Davis  and  of  his  minions,  and  of  all 
traitors  who  would  destroy  our  Union,  the  determined  response  that 
in  the  booming  thunders  of  Farragut's  cannon,  in  the  terrible  on 
slaught  of  Sherman's  legions,  in  the  flaming  sabers  of  Sheridan's 
cavalry,  and  in  the  red  battle  glare  of  Grant's  artillery,  our  voice  is 
still  for  war — war  to  the  knife — all  the  dread  enginery  of  war — per 
sistent,  unrelenting,  stupendous,  exterminating  war,  till  the  last 
rebel  shall  lay  down  his  arms,  and  our  flag  float  in  triumph  over  the 
land.  ******** 

"  The  black  wall  of  slavery,  which,  like  a  frightful  specter,  drove 
the  emigrant  from  the  sunny  fields  and  rich  savannas  of  the  South, 
is,  or  soon  will  be,  broken  down — the  process  of  intermixture,  inter 
marriage,  reciprocal  business  and  commercial  relations,  will  assume 
the  place  of  the  unsocial  isolations  which  have  heretofore  divided 
the  sections.  And  though  the  war  has  been  bitter  and  bloody,  yet 
the  history  of  most  nations  of  Europe  teaches  that  they  have  sur 
vived  long  and  bloody  civil  wars,  and  yet  afterwards  lived  in  peace 
and  harmony  under  the  same  government.  Such  is  the  history  of 
France,  after  .her  revolution.  The  civil  war  of  England,  in  the 


PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

memorable  days  of  Cromwell,  was  marked  by  scenes  of  violence, 
of  confiscation  of  property,  of  devastation  of  estates  and  desola 
tion  of  towns  and  cities,  as  intense  and  terrible  as  those  which  have 
marked  the  progress  of  our  civil  war.  Upon  the  re-establishment 
of  the  government,  the  people  became  united,  and  every  memory  of 
the  rancor  of  the  war  soon  disappeared.  And  so,  after  the  vindi 
cation  of  our  national  authority,  each  section  awarding  to  the  other 
the  credit  due  to  lofty  and  indomitable  prowess,  like  friends  who 
have  fought  it  out  and  are  better  friends  ever  after,  so  will  the  North 
and  the  South  bury  the  memory  of  their  wrongs.  Massachusetts 
and  Illinois  will  again  reunite  with  Virginia  and  Georgia  over  the 
grave  of  treason,  and  together  with  the  new-born  sisters  of  the  Con 
federacy,  will  live  on  in  the  bonds  of  a  new  brotherhood,  and  with 
fresh  allegiance  to  the  Constitution,  and  an  unfailing  faith  in  the 
proved  strength  of  our  institutions  and  man's  capacity  for  self-gov 
ernment,  strengthened  and  reassured  by  the  baptism  of  blood  through 
which  the  nation  has  passed,  they  will  move  on  as  one  people,  united 
forever. 

"  Such  is  to  be  the  end  of  events  passing  before  us,  and  I  trust 
that  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  their  posterity,  while  they 
offer  up  praises  and  thanksgiving  to  Almighty  God  for  the  deliv 
erance  he  has  brought  to  our  people  out  of  this  red  sea  of  blood — 
they  will  bless,  with  a  nation's  gratitude,  from  age  to  age,  the  mem 
ories  of  the  brave  men  who  have  perilled  all  for  their  country  in  its 
dark  and  trying  hour.  And  when  our  own  Illinois,  upon  some  na 
tional  holiday,  shall  meet  all  our  returning  soldiers,  as  they  shall 
pass  in  serried  ranks,  with  their  old  battle-scarred  banners  and  shiv 
ered  cannons,  and  rusty  bayonets  and  sabers — with  rebel  flairs  and 
rebel  trophies  of  every  kind — at  this  mighty  triumphal  procession, 
surpassing  the  proudest  festivals  of  ancient  Rome  and  Greece,  in 
their  palmiest  days,  then  the  loud  plaudits  of  a  grateful  people  will 
go  up  :  All  hail  to  the  veterans  who  have  given  our  flag  to  the  God 
of  storms,  the  battle  and  the  breeze,  and  consecrated  our  country 
afresh  to  Union,  Liberty  and  Humanity." 


OHAPTEE    IX. 

FREMONT'S  ADMINISTRATION". 

ILLINOIS  TROOPS  IN  THE  WEST — SITUATION  OF  MISSOURI — ST.  Louis  AND  LYON — ATTACK 

ON  BOONEVILLE CARTHAGE ARRIVAL  OF  FREMONT "WESTERN  DEPARTMENT" A 

CRITICAL  TIME — SOUTHEASTERN  MISSOURI — REYNOLD'S  PRONUNCIAMENTO — Gov.  JACK 
SON'S  PROCLAMATION — WILSON'S  CREEK — DEATH  OF  LYON — PRENTISS  TO  FREMONT — 
FREMONT'S  STATEMENT — PLAN  OF  His  CAMPAIGN — His  CELEBRATED  ORDER — LEXING 
TON — COL.  MULLIGAN'S  FORCE — THE  ASSAILANTS — IST,  ESTVAN'S  TESTIMONIAL — IN 
DIGNATION — COLFAX  AND  FREMONT RETREAT  OF  PRICE CROSSING  THE  OSAGE — FRE- 

MONT'S  MARCH — ZAGONYI'S  CHARGE — PRICE  AT  PIXEVILLE — REMOVAL  OF  FREMONT — 
HUNTER'S  RETREAT — ITS  ADVERSE  CONSEQUENCES — FIGHT  AT  MONROE — GEN.  HURL- 
BUT'S  ORDER — GEN.  POPE'S  ORDER — BATTLE  OF  CHARLESTON — FREMONT'S  REPORT — 
COLONEL  DOUGHERTY — THE  MARCH — CHARGE — ITS  RESULTS — KILLED  AND  WOUND 
ED — BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKTOWN — COL.  PLUMMER  AND  His  COMMAND — THE  EN 
GAGEMENT — THE  VICTORY. 

IN  the  disposition  of  the  armies  of  the  Union,  the  Illinois  troops, 
with  the  exception  of  a  few  regiments,  have  been  with  the  ar 
mies  of  the  West  and  Southwest,  and  not  with  those  of  the  East ; 
have  fought  along  the  Mississippi,  the  Tennessee,  the  Cumberland, 
the  White  and  the  Savannah,  rather  than  the  Potomac,  the  James 
and  the  Rapidan.  This  they  do  not  regret,  for  with  occasional  dis 
asters  the  armies  of  Belmont  and  Donelson,  of  Henry  and  Shiloh, 
of  Corinth  and  luka,  of  Vicksburg  and  Stone  River,  of  Chickamau- 
ga  and  Lookout  Mountain,  of  Atlanta  and  Savannah,  may  compare 
their  roll  of  marches  and  battles  with  that  of  the  veterans  of  the 
famed  captains  of  the  past. 

The  military  operations  of  the  West  began  with  the  occupying  of 
Cairo,  the  importance  of  which  has  been  stated.  Missouri,  with  a 
disloyal  Executive,  was  plunged  into  the  vortex  of  secession  by  his 
act  alone,  for  not  even  the  pliant,  cringing  Legislature  he  assem 
bled  would  go  to  the  extreme  length  of  voting  the  State  out  of  the 
Union,  though  quite  willing  to  do  all  lesser  acts  of  treasonable  aid 


156  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

and  comfort ;  willing  to  vote  the  School  Fund,  and  the  money  set 
apart  for  the  payment  of  the  July  interest  on  the  State  debt,  raid 
such  other  funds  as  they  could  bring  under  their  control,  for  milita 
ry  purposes,  "that  the  State  might  be  protected  against  invasion  and 
insurrection ;"  willing  to  give  Governor  Jackson,  as  thorough  a  rebel 
and  as  vile  a  traitor  as  there  was  in  South  Carolina,  exclusive 
military  authority,  arming  him  virtually  with  dictatorial  powers,  and 
making  merely  verbal  opposition  to  his  mandates,  treason  ;  willing 
to  enact  that  every  citizen,  subject  to  military  duty,  should  be  at 
the  traitor  Governor's  pleasure,  subject  to  draft,  and  required  to  take 
an  oath  of  obedience  to  the  State  Executive;  all  this  it  could  vote, 
but  dared  not  vote  the  Slate  out  of  the  Union.  The  Governor  ap 
pointed  Sterling  Price  Major-General  of  the  State  troops,  and  divid 
ed  the  State  into  military  districts,  under  the  following  named 
Brigadiers,  of  his  own  appointment:  viz.,  Parsons,  M.  L.  Clark, 
Jno.  B.  Clark,  Slack,  Harris,  Rains,  McBride,  Stein  and  Jeff.  Thomp 
son,  Avho  were  to  organize  and  send  their  troops  to  Booneville  and 
Lexington. 

The  commercial  metropolis  of  Missouri  and  the  Southwest,  St. 
Louis,  would  have  been  seized  and  held  but  for  the  intrepid  prompt 
ness  of  Captain,  afterwards  Brigadier-General  Lyon.  Says  Col. 
Estvan  of  the  Confederate  cavalry,  "  With  the  permission  of  the 
Confederate  Government,  a  body  of  troops  had  formed  a  camp  out 
side  of  St.  Louis.  The  Captain  of  the  Federal  troops  stationed 
there,  did  not,  however,  allow  this  germ  of  a  revolutionary  move 
ment  to  grow  under  his  very  eyes.  Relying  upon  the  German  pop 
ulation  of  St.  Louis,  as  well  as  upon  the  loyalty  of  their  feelings 
as  citizens  of  the  Union,  he  assembled  some  battalions  of  German 
troops,  marched  to  the  revolutionary  camp,  and  after  an  energetic 
summons  made  them  surrender.  This  gave  great  annoyance  to  the 
Confederates  at  St.  Louis.  The  Germans  were  received  with  show 
ers  of  stones  and  pistol  shots,  which  unpleasant  welcome  was  re 
sponded  to  by  the  poor  fellows  with  a  volley,  which  killed  some  of 
the  ringleaders.  The  excitement  increased,  and  St.  Louis,  that  beau 
tiful  and  flourishing  city,  was  on  the  point  of  becoming  the  scene  of 
strife  between  two  contending  factions,  which  it  only  escaped  through 
the  presence  of  mind  of  Captain  Lyon,  of  the  United  States  army." 


TSfcOtTGIi   CARTilAatf.  157 

This  Captain  Lyon  was  subsequently  made  Brigadier-General  of 
volunteers,  and  his  characteristic  promptness  and  decision  led  him 
to  move  immediately  upon  the  Confederate  forces,  winch  occupied 
Booneville,  on  the  18th  of  June,  1861.  Accordingly,  with  some  two 
thousand  men,  he  left  St.  Louis  on  steamers ;  and  after  landing  at 
Jefterson  City,  re-embarked  and  reached  Rockport,  nearly  opposite 
Booneville,  on  the  morning  of  the  17th,  and  crossing,  met  the  forces 
of  Marmaduke,  which  came  toward  the  landing  to  suprisc  him,  but 
to  their  own  surprise,  met  him  more  than  half  way  from  the  landing1 
to  their  own  encampment.  A  conflict  followed,  and  the  "  State 
troops,"  under  their  secession  organization,  were  routed,  and  fled  in 
wild  confusion,  leaving  their  camp  equipage,  provisions,  stores,  two 
iron  six-pounders,  with  horses,  and  small  arms.  The  loss  was  small 
on  either  side.  General  Lyon  entered  the  town  at  half  past  twelve^ 
and  established  his  head-quarters  at  the  Fair  ground,  quartering 
the  regiment  of  Col.  Frank.  P.  Blair  in  the  Thespian  Hall. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July  Col.  Franz  Sigel  met  the  forces  of  Jackson, 
and  though  vastly  outnumbered,  made  a  gall.int  fight,  and  conduct 
ed  a  masterly  retreat  to  Carthage,  and  through  that  town  to  Sarcoxie, 
Jackson  was  reinforced  by  the  command  of  Price,  and  Sigel,  out 
numbered  nearly  fourfold,  was  compelled  to  continue  his  retreat  via 
Mt.  Vernon  to  Springfield,  where  he  effected  a  junction  with  Lyon. 
This  affair  was  held  to  reflect  great  honor  upon  oitr  arms,  both  in 
the  engagement  and  the  necessary  retreat.  The  rebel  loss  far  ex-> 
ceeded  that  of  Sigel's  force.  The  latter,  a  mere  handful,  after  the 
previous  day's  march  of  twenty-two  miles,  marched  more  than  thirty 
miles,  fought  three  distinct  engagements,  besides  incessant  skirmish 
ing  with  superior  numbers,  and  when  compelled,  by  lack  of  ammu 
nition,  to  fall  back,  did  so,  with  the  enemy  hovering  on  both  flanks 
and  pressing  his  rear,  with  a  loss  so  small  as  to  excite  wonder. 

The  attention  of  the  War  Department  appeared,  perhaps  necessaj 
rily,  to  be  directed  almost  solely  to  Washington  and  its  defenses. 
The  West,  the  great  rivers  and  long  lines  of  railway,  the  cities 
and  immense  stores  of  provisions  of  the  Southwest,  were  doubtless 
important,  but  were  left  to  take  care  of  themselves. 

On  the  9th  of  July,  1861,  John  C.  Fremont,  who  had  just  arrived 


158  PATRIOTISM  Otf  ILLINOIS. 

from  Paris,  received  the  commission  of  Major-General  in  the  regu* 
lar  army,  and  with  it  the  following  order : 

"  The  State  of  Illinois,  and  the  States  and  Territories  west  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
on  this  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  including  New  Mexico,  will,  in  future,  consti* 
tute  a  separate  command,  to  be  known  as  the  Western  Department,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Major-General  John  C.  Fremont,  of  the  United  States  army,  head-quarters 
at  St.  Louis." 

It  will  be  seen  by  a  single  glance  at  the  map  that  his  Department 
was,  of  itself,  an  empire  in  extent,  with  an  armed  foe  threatening  it 
in  various  directions.  He  was  expected  to  raise,  organize,  arm  and 
discipline  his  forces,  for  there  could  be  none  spared  from  the  moun 
tains  of  Virginia  or  the  banks  of  the  Potomac.  "  He  was  also  ex 
pected,"  says  Mr.  Abbott,  "  with  his  victorious  columns,  to  pierce 
and  divide  the  Southern  Confederacy  of  rebels,  by  descending  the 
Mississippi  river  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Gulf.  No  plan  for  the  cam 
paign  was  afforded  him ;  no  special  instructions  were  given.  The 
accomplishment  of  the  object  desired  was  entrusted  wholly  to  his 
hands." 

The  appointment  was  made  at  a  critical  time*  In  Western  Mis 
souri  Lyon  had  effected  a  junction  Avith  Sturgis,  and  with  unpaid 
and  poorly  armed  troops-^"  Home  Guards,"  three  months'  men  and 
others,  in  all  not  exceeding  thirty-five  hundred  men,  and  they  rapid 
ly  melting  away— confronted  at  Springfield  by  the  combined  forces 
of  McCulloch,  Price  and  Jackson,  whose  rapidly  increasing  forces 
bade  fair  to  reach  the  number  of  twenty -five  or  thirty  thousand,  he 
telegraphed  urgently  for  reinforcements,  but  "  Washington  was  in 
danger,"  and  neither  Scott  nor  McClellan  could  spare  any  men,  and 
replied  by  ordering  him  to  send  his  regulars  to  Washington  !  No 
wonder  the  wrung  heaf  t  of  Lyon  almost  despaired,  and  that  on  the 
15th  of  July  he  wrote  to  a  friend :  "I  must  utterly  fail  if  my  regu 
lars  all  go.  At  Washington,  troops  from  all  the  Northern,  Middle 
and  Eastern  States  are  available  for  the  support  of  the  army  in  Vir 
ginia,  and  more  men  are  understood  to  be  already  there  than  are  want- ; 
ed,  and  it  seems  strange  that  so  many  troops  must  go  from  the  West, 
and  strip  us  of  the  means  of  defense  ;  but  if  it  is  the  intention  to 
give  up  the  West,  let  it  be  so.  I  can  only  be  the  victim  of  imbe 
cility  or  malice^  Scott  will  cripjple  us  if  he  can;  "^-[Letter  to  CoL 
Harding^ 


CONFEDERATE   FOECE   IN   MlSSOttSI.  159 

In  southeastern  Missouri  it  was  equally  gloomy.  General 
Prentiss  held  Cairo  and  Bird's  Point,  with  eight  regiments,  amount 
ing  to  6,350  men,  of  whom  six  regiments  were  three-months'  troops 
who,  though  most  of  them  re-enlisted  could  not  be  relied  upon  for 
service  until  after  re-organization.  Col.  Marsh  of  the  20th  111.  Vols, 
held  Cape  Girardeau,  an  important  position  between  Bird's  Point  and 
St.  Louis,  but  had  not  a  single  battery  for  its  defence ;  Col.  Bland 
was  stationed  at  Ironton,  seventy-five  miles  from  St.  Louis  by  rail 
road,  and  his  force  was  but  850. 

At  New  Madrid  Gen.  Pillow  had  a  well  drilled  force  of  from 
fifteen  to  twenty  thousand  which  was  daily  increasing,  while  he  had 
also  a  supply  of  excellent  artillery  and  cavalry.  Hardee  was  mov 
ing  on  Ironton  at  the  head  of  three  thousand  infantry  and  two  thou 
sand  cavalry.  Another  force  gathered  under  Jeff.  Thompson  at 
Bloomfield,  who  wrote  vauntingly  to  a  secession  friend  in  St.  Louis 
that  the  Union  forces  would  be  driven  north  of  the  Missouri  River1 
in  thirty  days. 

Thos.  C.  Reynolds,  Lieut. -Governor,  issued  a  proclamation  as  act* 
ing  Governor  of  Missouri,  dated  New  Madrid,  July  31st,  stating  his 
return  to  the  State  after  a  two  months'  absence  as  Commissioner  to 
•the  Confederate  States,  and  saying : 

"  And  now  I  return  to  the  State,  to  accompany,  in  my  official  capacity,  one  of  the 
armies  which  the  warrior  statesman  ["one  Jefferson  Davis"],  whose  genius  now 
presides  over  the  affairs  of  our  half  of  the  Union,  has  prepared  to  advance  against 
the  common  foe.  *  * 

"I  particularly  address  myself  to  those  who,  though  Southerners  in  feeling,  have 
permitted  a  love  of  peace  to  lead  them  astray  from  the  State  cause.  You  now  see 
the  State  authorities  about  to  assert  with  powerful  forces,  their  constitutional 
rights;  you  behold  the  most  warlike  people  on  the  Globe,  the  people  of  the 
lower  Mississippi  valtey,  about  to  rush  with  their  gleaming  bowie-knives  and 
unerring  rifles,  to  aid  us  in  driving  out  the  Abolitionists  and  their  Hessian  allies. 
If  you  cordially  join  our  Southern  friends,  the  War  must  soon  depart  from  Missouri's 
borders  ;  if  you  still  continue,  either  in  apathy,  or  in  indirect  support  of  the  Lincoln 
Government  you  only  bring  ruin  upon  yourselves  by  fruitlessly  prolonging  the  con- 
test.  The  road  to  peace  and  internal  security  is  only  through  union  with  the 
South.  We  will  receive  you  as  brothers,  and  let  by-gones  be  bygones.  Rally  to 
the  Stars  and  Bars  in  union  with  our  glorious  enaign  of  the  Grizly  Bear !" 

"  There  were  two  Hichmonds  in  the  field."  In  August,  Governor 
Jackson  issued  a  proclamation  designed  as  a  declaration  of  mde- 


160  tATKlOTlSM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

pendence,  declaring  Missouri  out  of  the  Union  and  in  the  Confed 
eracy,  though  the  people  of  the  State  had  declared  to  the  contrary. 
An  alliance  was  made  with  the  Richmond  Usurpation  by  which  a 
representation  in  the  rebel  Congress  was  secured. 

The  gloom  was  to  be  deepened.  The  forces  of  Lyon  left  Spring 
field  on  the  1st  of  August  and  encountered  a  rebel  detachment'  and 
by  strategem  drew  them  into  an  engagement  and  routed  them. 
Movements  of  the  rebel  force  compelled  Lyon  to  retrace  his  steps 
to  Springfield.  The  troops  of  McCulloch  and  Price  were  combined 
and  held  a  strong  position  at  Oak  Hill,  or  Wilson's  Creek.  Here 
they  were  attacked  by  Lyon,  and  a  desperate  engagement  followed., 
in  which  the  Union  troops  fought  with  unsurpassed  bravery,  but  they 
fought  a  foe  outnumbering  them  by  far,  and  yet  more  than  once  they 
seemed  to,  nay  thcjy  did,  snatch  victory  from  the  multitude  of  ene 
mies.  Bravely  leading  a  charge  Lyon  fell— an  irreparable  loss,  and 
one  that  threw  the  land  into  mourning.  General  Sigel  brought  off 
the  troops  with  marked  ability.  Says  a  rebel  authority:  "The 
battle  lasted  full  seven  hours  and  our  loss  of  two  thousand  killed 
and  wounded  shows  the  desperation  of  this  fierce  struggle.  Our 
trophies  consisted  merely  of  two  dismounted  cannon  and  some  hun 
dred  muskets.  The  enemy  lost  in  General  Lyon  a  brave  defender 
of  the  State  of  Missouri  and  a  good  patriot.  He  fell,  whilst  en 
couraging  his  men  by  word  and  deed;  two  bullets  penetiated  his 
heart  at  the  same  moment,  causing  immediate  death." 

As  the  troops  of  this  State  had  no  share  in  these  engagements  the 
record  of  them  is  necessarily  a  brief  one.  The  defeat,  so-called,  at 
Wilson's  Creek,  and  the  death  of  Lyon  gave  new  boldness  to  seces 
sionists  and  added  despondency  to  Unionists. 

As  Lyon  moved  his  force  toward  Springfield,  telegrams  came  in 
swift  succession  to  General  Fremont  asking  aid  from  various  quar 
ters.  Marsh  was  threatened  at  Cape  Girardeau.  Col.  Stevenson 
telegraphed  on  the  27th  of  July  for  at  least  an  additional  regiment 
that  he  might  leave  a  garrison  at  Booneville  and  disperse  a  rebel 
force  at  Warsaw,  estimated  at  ten  thousand  and  an  encampment 
at  Glasgow  of  about  two  thousand.  Gen.  Prentiss  telegraphed  on 
the  28th  that  Tennessee  rebels  were  concentrating  in  strong  force  at 
Madrid  to  move  on  Bird's  Point,  or  possibly  on  Cape  Girar- 


FREMONT'S  STATEMENT.  161 

deau ;  adding,  "  Col.  Marsh  has  no  battery.  I  have  none  to  spare." 
On  the  first  of  August,  Col.  Marsh  telegraphed  concerning  Pillow's 
force  at  New  Madrid,  stating  that  it  was  eleven  thousand  strong 
and  nine  thousand  moving  to  reinforce.  On  the  4th  he  telegraphed 
a  force  of  eight  to  ten  thousand  at  Bloomfield,  with  a  thousand  at 
two  other  points.  The  same  day  hevsent  information  that  Thomp 
son  was  within  sixteen  miles  of  him,  and  asking  reinforcements  and 
ammunition.  A  similar  dispatch  was  sent  the  next  day  from  Gen. 
Prentiss,  and  another  on  the  sixth. 

General  Fremont  thus  states  the  circumstances  surrounding  him, 
in  his  testimony  before  the  Committee  on  the  Conduct  of  the  War : 

"A  glance  at  the  map  will  make  it  apparent  that  Cairo  was  the  point  which  first 
demanded  attention.  The  force  under  Gen.  Lyon  could  retreat  but  the  position  at 
Cairo  could  not  be  abandoned;  the  question  of  holding  Cairo  was  one  which 
involved  the  safety  of  the  whole  Northwest.  Had  the  taking  of  St.  Louis  followed 
the  defeat  of  Manassas,  the  defeat  might  have  been  irretrievable  ;  while  the  loss  of 
Springfield,  should  our  army  be  compelled  to  fall  back  upon  Rolla,  would  only  carry 
with  it  the  loss  of  a  part  of  Missouri — a  loss  greatly  to  be  regretted,  but  not  irre~ 
trievable. 

"Having  reinforced  Cape  Girardeau  and  Ironton,  by  the  utmost  exertion  I  suc 
ceeded  in  getting  together  and  embarking  with  a  force  of  3,800  men  five  days  after 
my  arrival  in  St.  Louis. 

"  From  St.  Louis  to  Cairo  was  an  «asy  day^  journey  by  water,  and  transportation 
abundant.  To  Springfield  was  a  week's  march ;  and  before  I  could  have  reached  it^ 
Cairo  would  have  been  taken,  and  with  it,  I  believe,  St.  Louis. 

w  On  my  arrival  at  Cairo,  I  found  the  force  under  Gen.  Prentiss  reduced  ,  to  1,200 
men,  consisting  mainly  of  a  regiment  which  had  agreed  to  await  my  arrival.  A  few 
miles  below,  at  New  Madrid,  Gen.  Pillow  had  landed  a  force  estimated  at  20,000, 
which  subsequent  events  showed  was  not  exaggerated. 

"  Our  force,  greatly  increased  to  the  enemy  by  rumor,  drove  him  toa  hasty  retreat, 
;and  permanently  Secured  the  position.  *  *  * 

"  I  returned  to  St.  Louis  on  the  fourth,  having,  in  the  meantime,  ordered  Col. 
Stephenson's  regiment  at.Booneville,  and  Col.  Montgomery  from  Kansas,  to  march 
to  the  relief  of  Gen.  Lyon.  Immediately  upon  my  arrival  from  Cairo,  I  set  myself 
at  work,  amid  incessant  demands  upon  my  time  from  every  quarter,  principally  to 
provide  reinforcements  for  Gen.  Lyon. 

"  I  do  not  accept  Springfield  as  a  disaster  belonging  to  ray  administration.  Causes, 
Svholly  out  of  my  jurisdiction,  had  already  prepared  the- defeat  of  Gen.  Lyon  before 
my  arrival  at  St.  Louis." 

The  administration  of  Gen.   Fremont  and"  his  claim  to  military 
distinction  belong  rather  to  th^  general  historian  than  to  the  annalist. 
11 


162  PATRIOTISM  OF    ILLINOIS. 

who  writes  the  records  of  a  single  state  included  in  his  Department, 
But  simple  justice  demands  the  statement  that  few  of  our  leaders 
have  been  environed  with  graver  difficulties.  He  had  a  strong  foe 
and  but  few  men  with  which  to  oppose  him,  and  on  his  right  hand 
and  on  his  left  were  able  and  influential  opponents.  He  doubtless 
committed  mistakes,  but  he  moved  with  energy,  and  few  read  the 
history  of  the  Missouri  campaign  without  saying,  "  Perhaps  the  his 
tory  would  have  been  different,  had  not  Gen.  Fremont  been  removed 
just  at  that  critical  juncture."  As  to  the  General's  plans  Mr.  Abbott 
says :  "  On  the  8th  of  September  Gen.  Fremont  sent  a  private  note  to 
President  Lincoln,  communicating  his  plan  for  the  commencement 
of  the  Mississippi  River  campaign.  He  had  already  taken  posses 
sion  of  Fort  Holt  and  Paducah,  Kentucky,  by  which  movements  he 
was  enabled  to  command  the  Tennessee  River,  and  thus  to  prepare 
the  way  for  the  movement  down  that  River,  which  was  afterwards 
successfully  accomplished,  at  a  much  later  period,  by  his  successor. 
He  proposed  also  to  occupy  Smithland,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Cum 
berland  River,  and  Hopkinsville,  a  town  connected  by  railroad  with 
Henderson,  on  the  Ohio  River,  and  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles 
northeast  of  Fort  Donelson ;  at  the  same  time  sending  Gen.  Nelson 
with  a  force  of  five  thousand  men  to  occupy  Bowling  Green,  in 
southern  Kentucky,  and  Gen.  Grant  to  occupy  New  Madrid  and  the 
western  shore  of  the  Mississippi  River,  opposite  Cairo.  He  then  pro 
posed  a  combined  attack  on  Columbus  and  Hiekman,  and  an  advance 
from  Bowling  Green  and  Hopkinsville  on  Nashville,  with  which 
point  they  were  connected  by  railroad.  These  suggestions,  which 
subsequently  proved  to  be  so  sagacious,  were  not,  however,  adopted. 
The  rebels  were  permitted  to  occupy  Bowling  Green,  fortify  the 
Tennessee  and  Cumberland  Rivers,  and  take  possession  of  New 
Madrid.  Months  afterward  Gen.  Fremont's  plan  was  followed  to 
the  letter,  and  the  same  results  which,  had  he  been  then  sustained, 
could  have  been  accomplished  without  a  battle,  unless  probably  one 
at  Columbus,  were  accomplished  only  after  a  long  delay,  nnd  at  the 
expense  of  millions  of  treasure  and  many  sanguinary  conflicts.  The 
bombardment  of  Ft.  Henry,  the  terrible  battle  of  Ft.  Donelson,  the 
bloody  engagement  of  New  Madrid,  and  the  tedious  siege  of  Island 
No.  Ten  were  among  the  results  of  this  rejection  of  Gen.  Fremont's 


EMANCIPATION   OKDER,  163 

strategic  plans.  To  all  this  we  must  add  the  long  unmolested  occu 
pation  of  Bowling  Green  by  the  rebel  army,  a  source  of  terror  to 
all  Kentucky,  of  real  danger  to  Louisville  and  a  rallying  point  for  all 
secessionists  in  the  State." 

On  the  31st  of  August  he  issued  his  celebrated  General  Order, 
which  so  aroused  the  Northwest,  and  brought  the  question,  "What 
shall  be  done  with  the  negro  ?"  more  directly  before  the  nation. 
True,  the  President  revoked  so  much  as  related  to  freeing  slaves  of 
rebels,  but  only  himself  to  repeat  it  in  substance  at  a  later  day  and 
with  a  wider  scope. 

Price  was  marching  northward  toward  the  Missouri  River,  it  was 
believed,  to  attack  Jefferson  City,  the  Capital,  and  re-establish  Gov. 
Jackson  in  authority.  He  had  already  reached  the  Upper  Osage 
with  fifteen  thousand  men,  and  Fremont  was  pressing  to  completion 
the  organization  of  a  force  at  Jefferson  City  and  Holla  to  circumvent 
or  destroy  Price,  but  could  not  do  so  as  rapidly  as  he  desired  for 
want  of  transportation,  arms  and  money. 

Price  moved  forward  in  spite  of  an  effort  by  Gen.  Lane,  of  Kan 
sas,  with  a  small  force  to  stop  him  at  Dry  Wood,  occupied,  with  a 
detachment  of  his  army,  Fort  Scott,on  the  Kansas  border.  Thence 
north  by  east  at  pleasure,  and  on  the  llth  of  September  sat  down 
before  Lexington,  a  young  city  of  some  five  thousand  inhabitants, 
situated  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Missouri,  two  hundred  and  forty 
miles  west  of  St.  Louis.  The  place  was  held  by  Col.  Mulligan,  of 
the  "Irish  brigade,"  or  23d  regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers.  His  force 
consisted  of  his  own  regiment,  800 ;  Home  Guards,  Col.  White,  500 ; 
13th  Mo.,  Col.  Peabody,  840 ;  1st  Illinois  cavalry,  Col.  Marshall,  500.* 
The  "Home  Guards,"  Col.  Mulligan  subsequently  said,  were  only  too 
many.  He  found  them,  as  in  other  cases — "  In  peace  invincible ;  in 
war  invisible."  The  attacking  force  was  far  superior  in  numbers 
and  artillery,  of  which  the  Federal  commander  had  but  five  small 
brass  pieces  and  two  howitzers,  the  latter  contemptible  little  affairs, 

*  Lieut.  McClure  thus  states  the  number:  "Of  our  Brigade  (Irish)  that  are  fit 
for  duty,  eight  hundred  and  sixty  men;  Home  Guards,  six  hundred  and  seventy; 
artillerymen,  seventy ;  Illinois  cavalry  (1st),  eight  hundred;  Home  Guard  cavalry, 
three  hundred  men ; — making  about  two  thousand  seven  hundred  men  all  told,  to 
hold  one  of  the  most  important  posts  in  Missouri." 


164  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

The  round-shot  were  a  few  rough-hewn  specimens  from  a  neighbor 
ing  foundery,  manufactured  by  Capt,  McKulty,  of  the  cavalry,  and 
the  scanty  supply  of  shells  were  unfilled,  and  if  filled,  there  was  no 
one  who  could  manufacture  fuzes.  The  assaulting  force,  was,  by 
the  rebel  account,  composed  of  the  "elite  of  the  Confederate  array," 
with  Generals  Price,  Rains,  Slack,  Parsons,  Harris,  Green  and  Har- 
dee,  beside  a  multitude  of  Colonels.  Such  defences  were  thrown  up 
as  the  emergency  would  permit.  Says  the  St.  Louis  Democrat : 
"  The  fight  really  commenced  on  Monday  the  llth,  at  which  time  an 
advance  force  of  three  thousand  men,  under  Gen.  Harris,  advanced 
upon  Lexington  from  the  South.  *  *  *  Col.  Marshall's 
cavalry  and  the  13th  Missouri  were  ordered  out  to  meet  them.  A 
sharp,  decisive  action  occurred  Wednesday  evening  at  a  point  some 
two  miles  south  of  the  city,  and  near  the  Fair  Ground,  which  result 
ed  in  considerable  loss  to  the  Confederates,  owing  to  their  having 
fallen  into  an  ambuscade  prepared  for  them  by  the  13th  Missouri* 
The  Federal  loss  was  small,  only  four  being  killed  and  a  small  pro 
portionate  number  being  wounded."  A  mistaken  order  to  fall  backf 
given  by  Lt.-Col.  Hatcher,  prevented  the  full  advantages  of  this 
movement.  After  this,  there  was  little  of  moment  until  the  1 8th ; 
each  party  anxiously  watching  for  reinforcements,  and  Col.  Mulligan 
making  his  position  as  strong  as  possible. 

"Tuesday  evening  (the  17th)  the  aspect  of  affairs  was  changed, 
On  the  morning  of  Wednesday,  the  18th,  the  pickets  of  the  Feder 
als  were  driven  in  by  the  overwhelming  forces  of  the  enemy,  and  a 
battery  of  two  pieces  was  planted  by  the  Confederates  at  a  distance 
of  six  or  eight  hundred  yards,  on  the  street  running  south  from  the 
College  grounds,  another  battery  was  placed  to  the  southwest  across 
an  immense  ravine  that  separates  the  grounds  from  the  city,  another 
was  planted  in  the  northwest,  and  a  fourth  on  the  north,  and  then  at 
a  given  signal  from  Gen.  Price,  the  whole  thirteen  opened  their  fiery 
throats  upon  the  Federals.  The  latter  had  one  four,  one  twelve,  and 
three  six-pounder  pieces,*  and  getting  into  position,  they  too  joined 
the  chorus  that  went  thundering  over  the  country." 

The  great  evil  apprehended  by  the  garrison  was  the  cutting  off 
of  the  supply  of  water,  and  unfortunately  the  strong  forces  of  the 

*  Col.  Mulligan  says,  "we  had  five  six-pounders." 


A    KEBEL    ON    THE   SUKRENDEK.  165 

rebels  were  so  disposed  on  the  17th  as  to  accomplish  it  Our  brave 
men  were  cut  off  from  the  river.  Providentially  a  heavy  rain  fell  at 
intervals,  and  the  soldiers  spread  their  blankets  until  saturated,  and 
then  wrung  them  in  their  camp-dishes,  and  continued  to  fight,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  some  of  the  Home  Guards  made  no  murmur 
or  gave  no  sign  of  shrinking. 

But  brave  men  as  they  were,  they  could  not  contend  forever  against 
overwhelming  superiority  of  numbers,  with  their  relentless  allies,  hun 
ger  and  thirst,  especially  when  these  were  aided  by  the  defection  of 
the  Home  Guards.  All  could  have  been  borne  and  the  post  held  but 
for  the  demon  of  thirst.  They  surrendered  at  3  o'clock  A.  M.,  the  20th. 

Says  Col.  Estvan,  of  the  rebel  service :  "  Cut  off  from  all  help,  short 
of  provisions,  opposed  to  a  force  more  than  three  times*  its  number, 
even  the  bravest  might  feel  discouraged.  But  Col.  Mulligan  met 
our  attacks  with  undaunted  bravery,  and  when  we  approached  too 
near,  he  sallied  forth  and  drove  us  back.  It  was  only  after  fifty-two 
hours  of  uninterrupted  fighting,  when  all  its  means  were  exhausted 
that  Mulligan,  finding  his  small  garrison  worn  out  by  exertions  and 
without  a  chance  of  relief,  resolved,  after  holding  a  council  of  Avar, 
to  hoist  a  white  flag  as  a  sign  of  capitulation.  Gen.  Price  at  once 
ordered  the  firing  to  cease,  and  sent  two  of  his  officers  to  settle  the 
condition  of  surrender.  The  stipulations  were  soon  made.  The 
garrison,  with  their  commander,  were  to  lay  down  their  arms,  and 
remain  prisoners  of  war  of  the  Missouri  troops,  commanded  by 
Major-Gen.  Price. 

"  This  surrender  does  not  cast  the  slightest  discredit  on  Col.  Mul 
ligan,  his  officers  and  men.  After  having  exhausted  all  their  means 
against  the  enemy,  of  three  times  their  strength,  they  had  no  choice 
left  but  capitulation.  The  booty  was  considerable.  In  addition  to 
arms,  clothing,  and  ammunition,  we  took  more  than  a  million  of 
dollars  in  hard  cash.  These  dollars  nearly  rendered  our  fellows 
frantic,  for  this  was  the  object  which  had  induced  the  majority  of 
them  to  take  up  arms  against  their  former  Government.f  Gen. 

*  Nearer  six  times. 

f  A  striking  commentary  upon  the  disinterested  patriotism  of  Southern  Cavaliers, 
enlisting,  if  we  may  believe  rebel  papers  and  speeches,  from  no  motives  but  love  of 
freedom  and  fame,  leaving  to  Yankee  mudsills  all  eare  for  dollars  I  Vive  humbug! 


166  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

Price  received  Col.  Mulligan's  sword,  which  he  returned  to  him 
with  a  compliment.  '  I  should  be  sorry,'  he  said,  '  to  see  so  brave  an 
officer  deprived  of  his  sword.'  He  offered  to  place  Col.  Mulligan 
on  parole,  but  the  Colonel  declined ;"  Declined  because  he  ^\  ould 
not  recognize  the  right  of  the  Missouri  troops  to  act  as  lawful  bel 
ligerents. 

The  Confederate  army  had  scarcely  occupied  Lexington  when  the 
looked-for  reinforcements  came,  and  Col.  Sturgis  was  seen  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  river. 

The  surrender  of  Mulligan  caused  a  storm  to  break  out  against 
Fremont.  Illinois  was  indignant.  Mulligan  and  Marshall,  both 
wounded,  were  prisoners.  The  gallant  Col.  White  was  mortally 
wounded  and  died,  and  Missouri  asked  why  was  he  sacrificed  ?  The 
daring  Capt.  Gleeson  was  badly  wounded  in  the  brillant  sortie  of 
the  12th,  and  graves  were  made  for  brave  private  soldiers  who  died 
for  the  right.  Why  were  not  reinforcements  sent  ? 

On  the  14th  Hon.  Schuyler  Colfax  was  in  St.  Louis  and  saw  Gen. 
Fremont  and  told  him  that  the  public  were  clamoring  because  troops 
were  not  sent  to  interrupt  and  destroy  the  army  of  Price,  then  sup 
posed  to  be  closing  on  Mulligan. 

"Mr.  Colfax,"  said  the  General,  "I  will  tell  you  confidentially 
how  many  men  we  have  in  St.  Louis,  though  I  would  not  have  it 
published  on  the  streets  for  my  life.  The  opinion  in  the  city  is  that 
we  have  twenty  thousand  men  here,  and  this  gives  us  strength.  If 
it  were  known  what  is  the  actual  number,  our  enemies  would  be 
promptly  informed.  But  I  will  show  you  how  many  there  are." 
The  muster-rolls  were  brought  in  and  gave  an  aggregate  for  the 
city,  including  Home  Guards,  of  but  eight  thousand  men.  There 
were  but  two  full  regiments,  the  rest  being  fragments.  He  had  just 
received  orders  from  Secretary  Cameron  and  Gen.  Scott  to  detach 
5,000  infantry  from  his  command  and  send  them  without  a  moment's 
delay  to  Washington.  The  "  anaconda"  demanded  another  gorge. 
He  sent  two  regiments  in  response,  and  succeeded,  though  too  late 
to  save  Lexington,  in  securing  permission  to  retain  the  three  regi 
ments.  He  telegraphed  Col.  Jeff.  C.  Davis  to  send  two  regiments 
to  Lexington.  He  telegraphed  Sturgis  to  proceed  thither  with  his 
entire  force,  and  take  command.  He  ordered  Gen.  Lane  to  co-oper- 


PRICE    CROSSING    THE    OSAGE.  167 

ate  with  Sturgis.  On  tlie  16th  he  received  a  telegram  from  Gen. 
Pope  that  two  regiments  of  infantry,  four  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  cavalry  would  arrive  at  Lexington,  and  by  the 
day  following  additional  reinforcements,  amounting  to  four  thousand 
men.  He  had  a  right  to  suppose  Mulligan  would  be  relieved  and 
that  the  Federal  forces  would  be  sufficient  to  assume  the  offensive 
against  Price. 

Gen.  Fremont  left  St.  Louis  on  the  27th  for  Jefferson  city,  expect 
ing  to  confront  Price  at  some  point  on  the  Missouri  River,  but  his 
crafty  foe  moved  southward  and  southwestward  the  same  day. 
With  his  superior  cavalry  force  he  made  offensive  feints,  and  suc 
ceeded  in  crossing  the  Osage.  Pollard,  a  Confederate  authority, 
says,  "in  two  days  he  put  over  it  15,000  men  in  two  flat  boats." 
"  In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  State,"  says  Estvan,  "  the  Confed 
erate  Generals  sustained  a  series  of  defeats.  Generals  Pillow,  Har- 
dee  and  McCulloch  were  driven  out  of  the  field."  Price  was  hated 
by  McCulloch,  and  seeing  the  Federal  troops  too  cautious  in  their 
movements,  he  would  not  venture  to  undertake  anything  until  the 
three  divisions  had  approached  closer  to  each  other.  Taking  advan 
tage  of  the  slowness  of  the  enemy,  Gen.  Price  made  a  rapid  move 
ment  southward,  leaving  orders  for  his  cavalry  to  follow  him  and 
cover  his  retreat.  He  reached  the  Osage  without  any  obstruction, 
and  crossed  that  river  in  boats  with  his  infantry,  the  cavalry  swim 
ming  across ;  without  any  loss  either  in  time  or  men,  he  reached  the 
other  bank  in  safety.  In  military  annals,  this  passage  of  a  river  by 
13,000  men  will  figure  conspicuously,  as  it  was  performed  without 
pontoons,  or  any  other  facilities.  Gen.  Price 

allowed  his  men  a  respite  to  recover  themselves  from  the  fatigue 
they  had  undergone  and  remained  here  fourteen  days,  when  he 
resumed  his  march  toward  Pineville,  in  McDonald  county,  there  to 
reorganize  his  men. 

"  Meantime  Generals  Sigel  and  Fremont  concentrated  their  troops 
at  Springfield,  with  the  intention  of  putting  an  end  to  the  war  in 
Missouri.  Sigel  having  proceeded  from  thence  with  the  advanced 
guard  to  Wilson  Creek,  Gen.  Price  ordered  our  troops  to  retire  on 
the  appearance  of  the  enemy ;  but  whilst  about  to  carry  out  this 
order,  our  rear  was  attacked  by  Fremont's  body-guard,  under  tlio 


168  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

command  of  Major  Zagonyi,  formerly  in  the  Hungarian  service, 
doing  us  a  good  deal  of  damage,  and  compelling  us  to  accelerate 
our  retreat.  On  reaching  Pineville,  Gen.  Price  made  arrange 
ments  to  await  Gen.  Fremont's  attack,  and  then  to  leave  Mis 
souri  without  once  more  trying  the  chances  of  a  battle.  He 
well  knew  how  to  inspire  his  men  with  confidence  in  his  plans. 

"And  now  Gen.  Fremont  had  caught  us,  as  it  were  in  a  net,  what 
saved  us?  A  battle?  No;  the  Government  at  Washington,  at 
this  juncture,  deprived  Fremont  of  his  command.  This  caused  a 
complete  change  in  the  enemy's  plans,  and  allowed  our  Generals 
full  scope  to  alter  their  position.  The  Federal  army  was  now  com 
pelled  to  beat  a  retreat,  abandoning  the  rich  district  of  Springfield 
to  Gen.  Price.  The  latter  at  once  took  possession  of  it,  and  settled 
himself  down  comfortably  for  a  time  in  the  position  abandoned  by 
our  enemies." 

That  Gen.  Fremont  erred  in  some  things  may  be  conceded,  for  he 
was  surrounded  by  fearful  difficulties.  But  it  is  impossible  not  to  regret 
his  removal  at  that  juncture.  Mr.  Greeley  well  says  in  his  "American 
Conflict :"  "  But  none  of  his  errors,  if  errors  they  were,  can  compare 
in  magnitude  with  that  which  dictated  a  second  abandonment  of 
Springfield  and  retreat  to  Rolla  by  our  army  five  days  after  Hunter 
had  assumed  command.  No  doubt,  this  was  ordered  from  Washing 
ton  ;  but  that  order  was  most  mistaken  and  disastrous.  We  had  al 
ready  once  abandoned  southwestern  Missouri,  and,  even  then,  Lyon 
had  wisely  and  nobly  decided  that  it  was  better  to  risk  a  probable  de 
feat  than  to  give  up  a  Union  loving  people  to  the  mercies  of  their 
enemies  without  making  a  determined  effort  to  save  them.  But  now 
there  was  no  such  exigency.  We  were  too  strong  to  be  beaten, 
and  might  have  routed  Price  near  Pineville,  chasing  the  wreck  of  his 
army  into  Arkansas,  thus  insuring  a  dispersion  of  large  numbers  of 
the  defeated  Missourians  to  their  homes ;  and  then  .5,000  men,  well 
intrenched,  could  have  held  Springfield  against  all  gainsayers,  until 
the  next  spring.  But  our  second  retreat,  so  clearly  wanton  and  un 
necessary,  disheartened  the  Unionists  and  elated  the  secessionists 
of  all  southern  Missouri.  It  made  our  predominance  in  any  part  of 
the  State  appear  exotic  and  casual,  not  natural  and  permanent.  It 
revived  all  the  elements  of  turbulence,  anarchy,  and  rapine  which 


FREMONT   REMOVED.  169 

the  uncontested  supremacy  of  our  cause,  under  Fremont,  had  tem 
porarily  stilled. 

"  The  secessionists  along  and  even  above  the  Missouri  River  were 
galvanized  into  fresh  activity  in  guerrilla  outrages  and  murders,  by 
the  unexpected  tidings  that  we  had  abandoned  southern  Missouri 
without  a  blow,  and  were  sneaking  back  to  our  fastnesses  along  the 
lines  of  completed  railroads,  and  within  striking  distance  of  St. 
Louis." 

During  Fremont's  administration  occurred  some  minor  engage 
ments  in  which  troops  from  Illinois  bore  a  conspicuous  part.  Col. 
R.  F.  Smith,  of  the  16th  Regiment,  was  in  charge  of  the  Camp  near 
Monroe  Station,  thirty  miles  west  of  Hannibal,  Mo.,  having  under 
him,  in  addition  to  a  detachment  of  his  own  regiment,  one  from  the 
Iowa  Third,  with  about  100  of  the  Hannibal  Home  Guards,  in  all 
about  600  men.  Hearing  that  Gen.  Harris,  with  a  Confederate 
force,  was  encamped  at  Florida,  he  took  500  men  and  went  forward 
to  disperse  them.  Passing  Florida,  when  a  short  distance  north  of 
one  of  the  fords  of  the  Salt  River,  he  was  suddenly  fired  upon  from 
an  ambush,  and  Capt.  McAllister,  of  his  own  regiment,  was  mortally 
wounded.  The  fire  was  returned,  and  the  Federals  fell  back.  There 
was  a  skirmish  on  the  way,  but  Col.  Smith  reached  Monroe  in  safety 
and  threw  his  entire  force  into  an  academy.  Harris'  command, 
numbering  2,500,*  surrounded  it  and  fired  «£,  rather  than  upon  it. 
Reinforcements  under  ex-Governor  Wood  arrived  from  Quincy  and 
falling  upon  the  enemy's  rear,  completely  routed  them,  capturing 
seventy  prisoners,  one  gun,  and  a  large  number  of  horses. 

On  the  15th  of  July,  Brigadier-General  Hurlbut  issued  a  stirring 
proclamation  to  the  people  of  Northeastern  Missouri,  assuring  them 
that  the  time  for  treating  treason  with  leniency  had  passed  away 
and  that  sterner  measures  would  be  adopted. 

On  the  31st  of  July,  Brigadier-General  Pope  issued  a  special  order 
assigning  Brigadier-General  Hurlbut  to  the  command  of  the  U.  S. 
forces  along  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  Railroad ;  Col.  Grant  to 
command  at  Mexico,  on  the  North  Missouri  road ;  Col.  Ross  to 
occupy  Mounton,  and  Col.  Palmer  to  post  his  regiment  at  Renick 
and  Sturgeon  with  head-quarters  at  Renick. 

*  Another  statement  says  1,200. 


170  PATRIOTISM    OF  ILLINOIS. 

On  the  19tli  of  August  there  was  an  engagement  which,  at  that 
early  stage  of  the  war,  before  battles  had  become  so  stupendous  in 
dimension  and  so  frequent  as  to  stale  curiosity,  caused  no  little  ex 
citement.  Gen.  Fremont's  official  dispatch  is  as  follows  : 

"  ST.  Louis,  August  20,  1861, 
"To  Colonel  M  D.  Townsend: 

"Report  from  commanding  officer  at  Cairo  says  that  Colonel  Dougherty,  with 
three  hundred  men,  sent  out  yesterday  at  seven  o'clock  from  Bird's  Point,  attacked 
the  enemy  at  Charleston,  one  thousand  two  hundred  strong,  drove  him  back,  killed 
forty,  took  seventeen  prisoners,  fifteen  horses,  and  returned  at  two  o'clock  this 
morning  to  Bird's  Point  with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and  six  wounded.  Col.  Dougherty, 
Capt.  Johnson  and  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ransom  are  among  the  wounded. 

"  Our  forces  under  General  Preiitiss  are  operating  from  Ironton  in  the  direction 
of  Hardee.  J.  C.  FREMONT, 

"Maj.-Gen.  Commanding." 

A  reconnoissance  by  Capt.  Abbott  having  ascertained  the  strength 
of  the  foe  occupying  Charleston,  reported  it  to  Colonel  Dougherty 
as  one  thousand  and  that  an  attack  on  the  Union  forces  was  ap 
pointed  that  very  night.  The  St.  Louis  Democrat  thus  reports  it : 

"  'We  are  going  to  take  Charleston  to-night'  said  Colonel  Dougherty.  'You  stay 
here,  and  engage  the  enemy  until  we  come  back — we  shall  not  be  gone  long.  Bat 
talion,  right  face,  forward,  march  !'  and  on  we  went,  company  E  ahead,  company  A 
next,  and  so  on.  '  Double  quick '  was  given,  and  the  two  front  companies  only 
responded.  Arriving  at  the  town,  we  ascertained  for  the  first  time,  that  the  four 
rear  companies  were  detached.  A  few  minutes'  delay  and  we  were  ordered  forward 
without  them.  The  pickets  fired  upon  us,  and  we  followed  them  in.  We  dispersed 
the  cavalry,  capturing  twenty-one  horses  and  rushed  on,  the  bullets  whistling 
around  our  heads  like  hail,  but  we  shooting  down  and  dispersing  the  enemy.  Wo 
charged  furiously  on,  carrying  everything  before  us.  Colonel  Dougherty,  Capt. 
McAdams  and  Capt.  Johnson,  and  leaders  of  companies  A  and  E,  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  men,  alone  engaged  the  whole  force.  At  the  court-house  the  enemy 
made  a  stand.  Here  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ransom  of  the  llth  Ills,  who  had  volun 
teered  to  accompany  the  expedition,  inquired  of  Colonel  Dougherty  what  should  be 
done  next.  'Take  the  court-house  or  bust,'  was  the  emphatic  answer — and  we  did 
take  it. 

"The  volleys  from  the  windows  passed  over  our  heads,  or  fell  at  our  feet.  Those 
who  did  not  escape  from  the  windows,  were  killed  or  taken  prisoners,  and  when  we 
emerged  from  the  house,  the  enemy  were  to  be  seen  fleeing  in  the  distance.  We 
leisurely  retraced  our  steps.  At  the  railroad  track  we  met  the  detached  portions  of 
our  regiment,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hart.  *  *  *  *  They  had 
fallen  in  with  the  flying  enemy  and  killed  sixteen  of  them.  All  returned  to  Capt. 


KANSOM'S  GALLANTKT.  171 

Abbott's  encampment,  with  twenty-one  horses  and  eighteen  prisoners,  having  been 
less  than  two  hours  absent.  *  *  *  We  killed  about  sixty  or  seventy 
of  the  enemy  and  probably  wounded  twice  that  number.  There  were  some  fearful 
contests — some  hand-to-hand  fighting.  The  enemy  were  impaled  upon  the  bayonet, 
pulled  from  their  horses,  knocked  over  with  the  butt  of  the  gun,  or  of  the  pistol,  and 
so  bold  and  impetuous  was  every  movement,  that  the  enemy  fled  in  confusion. 
Before  morning,  our  cavalry  succeeded  in  capturing  a  camp  of  rebel  cavalry  above 
town,  and  brought  in  forty  horses  and  thirty-three  prisoners." 

Capt.  William  Sharp,  of  company  A,  was  killed.  A  correspondent 
of  the  N.  Y.  Tribune  relates  the  following  of  Lieutenant- Colonel 
R'.msom !  "  He  was  urging  his  men  to  the  charge,  when  a  man  rode  up, 
and  called  out,  '  What  do  you  mean?  You  are  killing  our  own  men.' 
Ransom  replied,  *  I  know  what  I  am  doing;  who  are  you?'  The 
reply  was,  '  I  am  for  Jeff.  Davis.'  Ransom  replied,  'You  are  the 
man  I  am  after,'  and  instantly  two  pistols  were  drawn,  the  rebel 
fired  first,  taking  effect  in  Colonel  Ransom's  arm  near  the  shoulder. 
The  Colonel  fired,  killing  his  antagonist  instantly."  This  was  a 
single  instance  of  the  courage  which  made  that  gallant  young  officer 
so  great  a  favorite,  and  inspired  his  men  when  he  came  to  command 
a  brigade  or  division  with  such  admiration  for  his  personal  courage  as 
made  them  ready  to  follow  anywhere  that  he  should  lead. 

Another  spirited  engagement  between  the  Union  forces  commanded 
by  Colonel  J.  B.  Plummer  of  the  llth  Missouri  and  the  Confed 
erate  troops  under  Brigadier-General  Jeff.  Thompson  occurred  near 
Fredricktown,  Mo.,  on  the  21st  of  October.  Colonel  Plummer 
received  orders,  on  the  17th  from  General  Grant,  commanding 
the  district  of  Southeast  Missouri,  with  head-quarters  at  Cairo, 
to  move  out  and  cut  off  Thompson,  and  on  the  following  morn 
ing  marched  with  about  fifteen  hundred  men  composed  of 
the  17th  Illinois,  Colonel  Leonard  F.  Ross;  the  20th,  Colonel 
C.  C.  Marsh;  the  llth  Missouri,  Colonel  Pennabaker;  Lieut. 
White's  section  of  Taylor's  Battery,  and  Captain  Steward's 
and  Lansden's  companies  of  cavalry.  Arriving  at  Fredericktown 
on  Monday  the  21st  at  12  M.  he  found  the  foe  gone  and  the  town  in 
possession  of  Colonel  W.  P.  Carlin  (called  Carlile  in  Greely's  His 
tory)  of  the  38th  Illinois.  Colonel  Carlin  waved  his  seniority  and 
gracefully  reported  to  Colonel  Plummer  for  orders.  With  his  force 
were  the  21st  and  33d  Illinois  regiments  commanded  by  Colonels 


172  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Alexander  and  Hovey,  six  companies  of  the  1st  Indiana  Cavalry, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Baker,  and  the  llth  Wisconsin,  Colonel 
Murphy,  and  one  section  of  Major  Schofield's  battery.  A  rapid  march 
of  half  a  mile  from  the  village  and  the  enemy  was  discovered  by 
Captain  Stewart.  Colonel  Ross  threw  forward  two  companies  as 
skirmishers,  and  then  advanced  his  regiment  into  a  cornfield 
to  support  them.  The  artillery  of  Taylor's  battery,  under  White, 
which  had  been  masked  upon  the  slope  of  a  hill  opened  with  effect 
iveness.  The  17th  Illinois  was  soon  engaged  with  the  main  body  of 
rebel  infantry,  commanded  by  Colonel  Lowe.  The  other  regiments 
deployed  to  the  right  and  left  of  the  road  as  they  came  up,  and  the 
38th  came  promptly  on  the  field  as  soon  as  permitted.  Under  the 
steady  advancing  fire  of  the  Illinois  17th  and  20th,  and  Wisconsin 
llth,  the  enemy  was  falling  back,  and  soon  broke  and  fled  in  dis 
order,  the  retreat  having  become  a  rout.  On  the  right  the  rebel 
force  under  Thompson  in  person,  wrhichhad  also  been  retreating  was 
rallied,  and  made  a  stand  with  a  gun  in  battery.  With  a  wild  shout 
and  ringing  sabers  the  Indiana  cavalry  charged  the  battery  and  car 
ried  it,  but  not  being  duly  supported,  the  enemy  carried  off  the  gun. 
Here  fell  the  brave  Major  Gavitt,  and  Captain  Highman.  The  rout 
soon  became  general,  and  they  were  pursued  some  twenty-two  miles. 
The  rebel  Colonel  Lowe  was  killed  with  nearly  two  hundred  others, 
and  eighty  prisoners  captured — the  number  of  their  wounded  is  not 
stated.  The  Union  loss  was  six  killed  and  sixty  wounded. 


OHAPTEE    X. 

U.  S.  GRANT. 

THK  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL — BIRTH — AT  WEST  POINT — His  ACADEMIC  COURSE — 
UATION — His  CLASS-MATES — BREVET  2o  LIEUTENANT— -To  MEXICAN  BORDER — FULL 
COMMISSION  AS  2o  LIEUTENANT — PALO  ALTO — RESECA  DE  LA  PALMA — ALONG  THE 
Rio  GRANDE — MONTEREY — MOLINO  DEL  REY — PROMOTED— BREVET  DECLINED — CHE- 
PULTEPEC — NOTICED  IN  REPORTS — CAPTAIN'S  BREVET— FULL  COMMISSION  AS  IST 
LIEUTENANT — To  OREGON — COMMISSIONED  CAPTAIN — 'RESIGNATION — "ST.  Louis — • 
GALENA — CONVERSATION  WITH  REV.  MR.  VINCENT — GOVERNOR  YATES'  ACCOUNT — IN 
COMMAND  AT  MEXICO — AT  CAIRO — SEIZES  PADUCAH  AND  SMITHLAND — THE  BATTLE 
OF  BELMONT — Loss — FOUKE  AND  WRIGHT—ILLINOIS  REGIMENTS — GUNBOATS — HAL-* 
LECK — GRANT'S  DISTRICT— NEW  CAMPAIGN — MAJOR-GENERAL — PROMOTION — ELB* 
MENTS  OF  SUCCESS. 

HENCEFORWARD,  through  two  years,  the  soldiers  of  Illinois 
are  so  intimately  associated  with  one  man,  about  whom  they 
group  as  a  center,  that  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life  and  military  career 
will  enable  the  reader  better  to  understand  their  shifting  move 
ments. 

It  is  the  fortune  of  Illinois  to  have  given  the  nation  its  chief  mag 
istrate,  and  also  to  see  one  of  its  quiet,  unobtrusive  citizens  rise  from 
Colonel  commanding  the  21st  Regiment  to  the  high  grade  of  Lieu- 
tenant-General,  commanding  all  the  armies  of  the  United  States. 

Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  born  in  Clermont  Co.,  Ohio,  April  27, 
1822.  In  1839,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  through  the  kindness  of 
Gen.  T.  L.  Hamer,  he  was  admitted  to  the  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point,  passing  a  thorough  examination,  and  was  admitted  into 
the  fourth  class,  his  studies  consisting  of  mathematics,  English 
grammar,  including  etymological  and  rhetorical  exercises,  composi 
tion,  declamation,  the  geography  of  the  United  States,  the  French 
language  and  the  use  of  small  arms.  In  1840  he  was  advanced  to 
the  third  class,  ranking  as  corporal  in  the  cadet  battalion*  study- 


174  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

ing  the  higher  mathematics,  French,  drawing,  and  for  sixteen  weeks 
the  duties  of  a  cavalry  soldier.  In  1841  he  passed  into  the  2d  class 
With  the  rank  of  sergeant  of  cadets,  with  a  higher  and  more  labo 
rious  range  of  studies,  gaining  steadily,  if  not  rapidly,  and  never 
falling  back.  In  1842  he  entered  the  first  and  final  class,  ranking  as 
a  commissioned  officer.  He  pursued  the  study  of  civil  and  military 
engineering,  ethics,  constitutional,  international  and  military  law, 
mineralogy,  geology  and  Spanish,  these  latter  extra  to  the  regular 
curriculum.  He  also  received  instruction  in  ordnance,  gunnery  and 
cavalry  tactics,  and  "  acquired  a  practical  knowledge  of  the  use  of 
the  rifled  musket,  the  field-piece,  mortar,  seige  and  sea-coast  gun?, 
small-sword  and  bayonet,  as  well  as  of  the  construction  of  field 
works,  and  the  fabrication  of  all  munitions  and  materiel  of  war."* 
He  graduated  on  the  30th  of  June,  1843,  standing  No.  21,  in  a  class 
of  thirty-nine.  Standing  first  was  William  B.  Franklin,  of  Penn 
sylvania,  Major-General  TJ.  S.  Volunteers,  commander  of  Nineteenth 
Army  Corps,  &c. 

The  names  of  the  next  three  are  not  now  on  the  U.  S.  Army  List. 

Wm.  F.  Reynolds  graduated  fifth.  He  was  appointed  an  aid 
on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Fremont,  when  that  officer  commanded  the 
Mountain  Department,  and  held  the  rank  of  Colonel. 

The  sixth,  Isaac  F.  Quinby.  He  entered  the  artillery  service,  and 
was,  for  a  time,  professor  at  West  Point,  but  had,  before  the  re 
bellion,  gone  into  civil  life.  He  entered  the  service  for  the  Union 
at  the  head  of  a  New  York  Regiment,  and  became  a  Brigadier  in  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Roswell  S.  Ripley  graduated  seventh.  He  entered  the  rebel  ser 
vice  and  his  name  stands  henceforth  in  the  dishonored  list  of  traitors, 

John  James  Peck,  the  eighth,  entered  the  artillery  service.  He 
became  Major-General  of  Volunteers,  commander  of  the  District  of 
North  Carolina,  &c. 

John  P.  Johnson,  a  gallant  artillery  Lieutenant,  who  fell  bravely 
at  Contreras,  Mexico,  Was  ninth,. 

Major-General  Joseph  Jones  Reynolds,  of  Indiana,  tenth,  attained 
eminence  as  a  Professor  of  Science.  He  served  with  distinction 

*  Larke's  Biography. 


HIS   FELLOW   GRADUATES.  175 

through  the  war  in  Mexico ;  became  Maj or- General  of  Volunteers, 
and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  1,  1863. 

Col.  James  Allen  Hardie,  Assistant  Adjutant-General  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  was  eleventh. 

Henry  F.  Clarke  graduated  twelfth,  entered  artillery  service, 
gained  brevets  in  Mexico,  became  Chief  Commissary  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac,  and  received  the  rank  of  Colonel. 

The  next  was  Lieutenant  Booker,  who  died  in  the  service  at  San 
Antonio,  Texas. 

The  fourteenth  was  the  traitor  Samuel  G.  French,  who  desert 
ed  his  country  and  flag  without  even  the  poor  apology  of  Southern 
birth,  being  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  He  is  Major-General  C.  S.  A. 

The  fifteenth,  Lieutenant  Theo.  F.  Chadbourne,  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma,  May  9,  1846,  bravely  distinguishing 
himself. 

The  sixteenth  was  Christopher  C.  Augar,  U.  S.  Major-General  of 
Volunteers. 

The  seventeenth  was  F.  Gardner,  another  northern  ingrate,  who, 
born  in  New  York  and  educated  by  the  Republic,  entered  the  ser 
vice  of  the  rebels.  He  became  Major-General  C.  S.  A.,  and  won 
his  notoriety  by  the  surrender  of  Port  Hudson. 

The  next  was  Lieutenant  George  Stevens,  drowned  at  the  passage 
of  the  Rio  Grande,  May  18,  1846. 

The  next,  Edrn.  B.  Holloway,  of  Kentucky,  breveted  at  Con- 
treras,  Captain  in  the  U.  S.  A.  At  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion,  he 
resigned  his  commission  and  went  to  the  rebels. 

The  twentieth,  Lieutenant  Lewis  Neill,  who  died  in  service  at  Ft. 
Croghan,  Texas,  J;m.  13,  1850. 

Twenty-first,  ULYSSES  S.  GRANT. 

Twenty-second,  Joseph  H.  Potter,  at  the  commencement  of  war 
was  Captain  in  the  Regular  Army,  and  became  Colonel  of  Volunteers, 
retaining  his  regular  rank. 

Twenty-third,  Lieutenant  Robert  Hazlitt,  killed  at  the  storming  of 
Monterey,  September  21,  1846. 

Twenty-fourth,  Lieutenant  Edw.  Howe,  died  in  the  service  at 
Fort  Leavenworth,  March  31,  1850. 

Next  was  Lafayette  Boyer  Wood,  of  Virginia,  not  in  service* 


176  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Twenty-sixth,  Major- General  Charles  S.  Hamilton,  U.  S.  Vol 
unteers. 

Next,  Wm.  K.  Van  Bokkelen,  of  New  York,  cashiered  for  rebel 
proclivities  May  8,  1861. 

The  next  two  were  A.  St*  Armaud  Crozet,  who  had  resigned  sev 
eral  years  before  the  war;  Lieutenant  Charles  E.  James,  who  died  at 
Sonora,  California,  June  8,  1849* 

Major- General  Fred*  Steele,  U.  S.  Volunteers,  was  thirtieth  on 
the  list.  He  was  recently  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army 
of  Arkansas. 

The  thirty-first  was  Captain  Henry  R.  Selden,  of  the  Fifth  U.  S. 
Infantry. 

General  Rufus  Ingalls,  Quartermaster-General  of  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac,  stood  next,  followed  in  order  by  Major  Fred.  T.  Dent, 
Fourth  U.  S.  Infantry,  and  Major  J.  C.  McFarran,  Quartermaster's 
Department. 

The  thirty-fifth  was  Brigadier-General  Henry  Moses  Judah,  who 
commanded  a  division  of  the  23d  Army  Corps. 

The  remaining  four  are  out  of  the  service.  They  are  Norman 
Elting,  Cave  J.  Houts,  Charles  G.  Merchant  and  George  B.  McClel- 
lan. 

It  is  not  always  that  brilliancy  in  early  scholarship  makes  its  way 
to  high  success  in  life's  practical  duties.  There  are  seniors  of  Gen 
eral  Grant  who  may  have  been  elated  with  their  higher  honors  at 
graduation,  who  are  now  proud  to  serve  under  their  slower  but  per 
sistent  junior. 

On  the  first  of  July,  the  second  day  of  his  graduation,  he  received 
the  brevet  of  2d  Lieutenant.  The  country  was  happily  at  peace, 
and  he  was  attached  as  supernumerary  Lieut,  to  the  Fourth  Regi 
ment  U.  S.  Infantry  then  stationed  in  Missouri.  The  trouble  with 
Mexico  continuing,  his  regiment  was  ordered  to  join  the  army  of 
occupation  concentrating  under  General  Taylor  in  the  borders  of 
Mexico,  and  was  stationed  at  Corpus  Christi,  where  he  received  the 
grade  of  full  2d  Lieutenant,  dated  from  September  80,  1845,  and 
was  assigned  to  the  Seventh  U.  S.  Infantry.  Upon  personal  solicita* 
tion  he  was  permitted  to  remain  with  the  Fourth.  The  8th  of  May 
1846,  he  participated  in  the  Battle  of  Palo  Alto^  and  on  the  9th  in 


17T 

that  of  Resacade  la Palma,  and  in  the  subsequent  operations  of  Gen 
eral  Taylor  along  the  Rio  Grande.  On  the  23d  of  September  he  par 
ticipated  in  successful  operations  against  Monterey.  The  Fourth 
was  transferred  to  the  immediate  command  of  General  Scott,  and 
participated  in  the  successful  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  The  Lieutenant 
WAS  appointed  Quartermaster  of  his  regiment,  a  position  he  held 
until  the  occupation  of  the  city  of  Mexico.  At  the  battle  of  Molino 
del  Rey,  September  8,  185^,  his  bravery  was  so  conspicuous  that 
he  was  made  a  1st  Lieutenant  on  the  field.  The  Senate  attempted 
to  ratify  this  as  a  mere  brevet,  which  was  promptly  declined  by  the 
young  officer.  His  gallant  bearing  at  Chepultepec  is  specially  noted 
in  the  reports  of  his  superiors,  and  for  it  he  received  the  brevet  of 
captain  in  the  Regular  Army,  to  date  from  the  13th  day  of  the  bat 
tle,  which  was  confirmed.  He  received  his  commission  as  full  1st 
Lieutenant  three  days  later,  which  he  accepted,  holding  his  prior 
brevet  rank  of  captain. 

Returning  to  the  States  his  regiment  was  broken  into  battalions: 
and  he,  with  one  of  them,  occupied  a  northern  boundary  fort.  In* 
1850  or  1851  it  was  ordered  to  Oregon  with  head-quarters  for  a  time 
at  Dallas.  While  there  he  received  his  full  promotion  to  Captain  of' 
Infantry,  dating  from  August,  1853.  Shortly  after  he  was  attached' 
to  the  army  of  the  West,  but  subsequently  resigned  his  commission! 
and  entered  civil  life  on  the  31st  of  July,  1854.  Having  married1 
Miss  Dent,  of  St.  Louis,  he  settled  near  that  city  and  devoted  him 
self  to  farming. 

In  1859  his  father,  brothers  and  himself  opened  a  leather  store  in 
the  city  of  Galena,  Illinois,  where  he  pursued  a  profitable  business 
life  until  the  rebellion,  when  he  hastened  to  tender  his  services  to  • 
the  country  from  which  he  had  received  his  education,  though, 
fifteen  years  of  service  might  well  be  held  to  have  cancelled  that 
obligation. 

The  Rev.  Jno.  H.  Vincent,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  Galena,  the  worship  of  which  Captain  Grant 
regularly  attended,  has  given  the  writer  the  following  incident : 

Having  occasion  to  visit  Dubuque  on  an  exchange,  he  break 
fasted  on  Sabbath  morning  at  the  Julian  House,  and  found  there  his 

parishioner,  the  captain.     Breakfast  over,,  the  captain  and  the  pastor  • 
12 


178  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

were  standing  near  a  stove,  the  former  in  his  old  blue  army 
overcoat,  when  the  conversation  took  a  war  direction.  Says  Mr. 
Yineent,  "  It  then  continued  so  long  as  to  make  me  nervous  lest  I 
should  be  too  late  for  my  engagement,  and  my  unprofessional  judg 
ment  could  not  pronounce  upon  the  correctness  of  his  opinions. 
But  now  that  so  much  history  has  been  made,  I  refer  with  wonder 
to  his  comprehensive  statements  of  the  magnitude  the  rebellion 
would  assume ;  the  positions  it  would  assume  and  the  means  neces 
sary 'for  its  dislodgements.  He  spoke  quietly,  but  it  was  with  the 
knowledge  of  a  master.  He  comprehended  the  vastness  of  the 
coming  war." 

Governor  Yates,  in  his  last  annual  message,  thus  narrates  the 
entrance  of  Captain  Grant  into  the  service  of  the  State : 

"  Prominent  among  the  many  distinguished  names  who  have 
borne  their  early  commissions  from  Illinois,  I  refer,  with  special 
pride,  to  the  character  and  priceless  services  to  the  country  of 
Ulysses  S.  Grant.  In  April,  1861,  he  tendered  his  personal  servi 
ces  to  me,  saying  '  that  he  had  been  the  recipient  of  a  military  edu 
cation  at  West  Point,  and  that  now,  when  the  country  was  involved 
in  a  war  for  its  preservation  and  safety,  he  thought  it  his  duty  to 
Coffer  his  services  in  defense  of  the  Union,  and  that  he  would  esteem 
.it  a  privilege  to  be  assigned  to  any  position  where  he  could  be 
useful.'  The  plain,  straightforward  demeanor  of  the  man,  and  the 
.modesty  and  earnestness  which  characterized  his  offer  of  assistance, 
at  once  awakened  a  lively  interest  in  him,  and  impressed  me  with  a 
desire  to  secure  his  counsel  for  the  benefit  of  volunteer  organiza 
tions  then  forming  for  government  service.  At  first  I  assigned  him 
.  a  desk  in  the  Executive  office ;  and  his  familiarity  with  military 
organization  and  regulations  made  him  an  invaluable  assistant  in 
my  own  and  the  office  of  the  Adjutant-General.  Soon  his  admira 
ble  qualities  as  a  military  commander  became  apparent,  and  I 
assigned  him  to  command  of  the  camps  of  organization  at  '  Camp 
Yates,'  Springfield,  '  Camp  Grant,'  Mattoon,  and  '  Camp  Douglas,' 
at  Anna,  Union  county,  at  which  the  7th,  8th,  9th,  10th,  llth,  12th, 
18th,  19th  and  21st  regiments  of  Illinois  volunteers,  raised  under 
-the  call  of  the  President  of  the  15th  of  April,  and  under  the  '  Ten 
.Regiment  Bill,'  of  the  extraordinary  session  of  the  Legislature, 


GOV.   YATE'S  ox  GKANT* 

<conveaed  April  23,  1861,  were  rendezvoused.  His  employment 
had  special  reference  to  the  organization  and  muster  of  these 
forces — the  first  six  into  United  States,  and  the  last  three  into  the 
State  service.  This  was  accomplished  about  the  10th  day  of  May, 
1861,  at  which  time  he  left  the  State  for  a  brief  period,  on  a  visit  to 
his  father,  at  Covington,  Kentucky. 

"The  21st  regiment  of  Illinois  volunteers,  raised  in  Macon,  Cum 
berland,  Piatt,  Douglass,  Moultrie,  Edgar,  Clay,  Clark,  Crawford 
and  Jasper  counties,  for  thirty-day  State  service,  organized  at  the 
camp  at  Mattoon,  preparatory  to  three  years1  service  for  the  govern 
ment,  had  become  very  much  demoralized,  under  the  thirty  days' 
experiment,  and  doubts  arose  in  relation  to  their  acceptance  for  a 
longer  period.  I  was  much  perplexed  to  find  an  efficient  and  ex 
perienced  officer  to  assume  command  ef  the  regiment  and  take  it  into 
the  three  years'  service.  I  ordered  the  regiment  to  Camp  Yates, 
and  after  consulting  lion.  Je-sse  K.  Dubois,  who  had  many  friends 
in  the  regiment,  and  Col.  John  S.  Loomis,  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General,  who  was  at  the  time  in  charge  of  the  Adjutant-General's 
office,  and  on  terms  of  personal  intimacy  with  Grant,  I  decided  to 
offer  the  command  to  him,  and  accordingly  telegraphed  Captain 
Grant,  at  Covington,  Kentucky,  tendering  him  the  Colonelcy.  He 
Immediately  reported,  accepting  the  commission,  taking  rank  as 
Colonel  of  that  regiment  from  the  15th  day  of  June,  1861.  Thirty 
days  previous  to  that  time  the  regiment  numbered  over  one  thou 
sand  men,  but  in  consequence  of  laxity  in  discipline  of  the  first 
commanding  officer,  and  other  discouraging  obstacles  connected 
with  the  acceptance  of  troops  at.  that  time,  but  six  hundred  and 
three  men  were  found  willing  to  enter  the  three  years'  service.  In 
less  than  ten  days  Col.  Grant  filled  the  regiment  to  the  maximum 
standard,  and  brought  it  to  a  state  of  discipline  seldom  attained  in 
the  volunteer  service,  in  so  short  a  time.  His  was  the  only  regi 
ment  that  left  the  camp  of  organization  on  foot.  He  marched  from 
Springfield  to  the  Illinois  river,  but,  in  an  emergency  requiring 
troops  to  operate  against  Missouri  rebels,  the  regiment  was  trans 
ported  by  rail  to  Quincy,  and  Col.  Grant  was  assigned  to  the  command 
for  the  protection  of  the  Quincy  and  Palmyra,  and  Hannibal  and  St. 
Joseph  railroads.  He  soon  distinguished  himself  as  a  regimental 


180  PATRIOTISM   OF 

commander  in  the  field,  and  his  claims  for  increased:  rsmfe 
recognized  by  his  friends  in  Springfield,  and  his  promotion  insisted 
upon  before  his  merits  and  services  were  fairly  understood  at  Wash 
ington.  His  promotion  was  made  upon  the  ground  of  his  military 
education,  fifteen  years'  services  as  a  Lieutenant  and  Captain  in  the 
regular  army  (during  which  time  he  was  distinguished  in  the  Mex 
ican  war),  his  great  success  in  organizing  and  disciplining  his  regi 
ment,  and  for  his  energetic  and  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  cam 
paign  in  North  Missouri,  and  the  earnestness  with  which  lie  entered 
into  the  great  work  of  waging  war  against  the  traitorous  enemies  of 
his  country.  His  first  great  battle  was  at  Belmont,  an  engagement 
Which  became  necessary  to  protect  our  Southwestern  army  in 
Missouri  from  overwhelming  forces  being  rapidly  consolidated 
against  it  from  Arkansas,  Tennessee,  and  Columbus  Kentucky, 
The  struggle  was  a  desperate  one,  but  the  tenacity  and  soldierly 
qualities  of  Grant  and  his  invincible  little  armyy  gave  us  the  first 
practical  victory  in  the  West.  The  balance  of  his  shining  record  is 
indelibly  written  in  the  history  of  Henry,  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth, 
Vicksburg,  Chattanooga,  The  Wilderness,  siege  of  Richmond,  and 
the  intricate  and  difficult  command  as  Lieutenant-General  of  the 
armies  of  the  Union—written  in  the  blood  and  sacrifices  of  the 
heroic  braves  who  have  fallen,  following  him  to  glorious  victory — 
written  upon  the  hearts  and  memories  of  the  loy«il  millions  who  arc 
at  the  hearth-stones  of  our  gallant  and  unconquerable  "Boys  in 
Blue."  The  impress  of  his  genius  stamps  our  armies,  from  one  end 
of  the  Republic  to  the  other  ;  and  the  secret  of  his  success  in  exe 
cuting  his  plans,  is  in  the  love,  enthusiasm  artcf  confidence  he  in 
spires  in  the  soldier  in  the  ranks,  the  harmony  and  respect  of  his 
subordinate  officers,  his  own  respect  for  and  deference  to  the  wishes 
and  commands  of  the  President,  and  his  sympathy  with  the  govern 
ment  in  its  war  policy. 

"As  evidence  of  the  materials  of  the  State  of  Illinois  for  war 
purposes,  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  and  a  pleasing  incident  of 
Grant's  career,  I  refer  to  an  article  in  the  Vicksburg  paper,  the 
*  Weekly  Sun,'  of  May  13,  1861,  which  ridicules  our  enfeebled  ami 
unprepared  condition,  and  says :  c  An  official  report  made  to  Gov 
ernor  Yates,  of  Illinois,  by  one  Captain  Grant,  says  that  after  exam- 


YATKS    ON    GRANT.  181 

inimg  all  the  State  armories,  lie  finds  the  muskets  amount  to  just 
nine  hundred  and  four,  and  of  them  only  sixty  in  servicable  condi 
tion.'  Now  the  name  of  that  man,  who  was  looking  up  the  rusty 
muskets  in  Illinois,  is  glory-crowned  with  shining  victories,  and  will 
fill  thousands  of  history's  brightest  pages  to  the  end  of  time.  I 
know  well  the  secret  of  his  power,  for  afterwards,  when  I  saw  him 
at  head-quarters,  upon  the  march,  and  on  the  battle  fkld,  in  his 
plain,  thread-bare  uniform,  modest  in  his  deportment,  careful  of  the 
wants  of  the  humblest  soldier,  personally  inspecting  all  the  dispo 
sitions  and  divisions  of  his  army,  cairn  and  courageous  amidst  the 
most  destructive  fire  of  the  enemy,  it  was  evident  that  he  had  the 
confidence  of  every  man,  from  the  highest  officer  down  to  the  hum 
blest  drummer  boy  in  his  whole  command.  His  generalship  rivals 
that  of  Alexander  and  Napoleon,  and  his  armies  ellipse  those  of 
Greece  and  Rome,  in  their  proudest  days  of  imperial  grandeur.  He 
is  a  gift  of  the  Almighty  Father  to  THE  NATION,  in  its  extremity, 
.and  he  has  won  his  way  to  the  exalted  position  he  occupies  through 
his  own  great  perseverance,  skill  and  indomitable  bravery." 

The  31st  of  July,  1861,  Col.  Grant  was  placed  in  command  of  the 
troops  at  Mexico  on  the  North  Missouri  Railroad  in  the  North  Mis 
souri  District,  commanded  by  Brigadier  Gen.  John  Pope.  The 
regiment  was  marched  to  Pilot  Knob,  which  it  garrisoned  ;  then  to 
Ironton,  and  then  to  Marble  Creek.  On  the  23d  of  August  he  was 
promoted  Brigadier-  General  with  a  commission  dating  from  May 
17th.  He  was  half  way  down  a  list  of  thirty- four  appointed  the 
same  day.  He  was  placed  in  command  of  the  post  at  Cairo,  with 
his  own  brigade  and  that  of  Brig.  Gen.  McClernand.  His  post  in 
cluded  within  its  jurisdiction  the  Missouri  shore  of  the  Mississippi 
from  Cape  Girardeau  to  New  Madrid,  Kentucky,  which  was  then 
enjoying  its  McGoffin  neutrality,  and  rebel  bands  from  Tennessee 
crossed  the  dividing  line  at  pleasure,  while  they  were  fortifying  Co 
lumbus  and  Hicknian  on  the  Mississippi,  and  Bowling  Green  on  the 
Big  Barren  River.  General  Grant  perceiving  this,  at  once  seized 
Paducah,  a  valuable  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  River,  and 
within  nineteen  days  he  occupied  Smithland,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Cumberland  river,  thus  blockading  the  entrance  of  the  rebel  States, 
furnishing  bases  for  future  operations  and  clearing  out  the  pestilent 


182  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

guerrillas  who  were  attempting  to  close  the  Ohio  River.  The 
"  neutral "  citizens  of  Paducah  were  ready,  with  ample  stores  and 
secession  flags,  for  the  reception  of  the  Confederate  forces. 

On  the  7th  of  November  was  fought  a  bloody  and  sternly  con 
tested  battle  at  Belmont,  Missouri,  and  one  which  has  caused  much 
criticism.  The  object  of  the  movement  is  stated  by  General  Grant 
in  his  official  report  to  have  been  "  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  send 
ing  reinforcements  to  Price's  army  in  Missouri,  and  also  from  cutting 
off  Columbus  reinforcements  that  I  had  been  instructed  to  send  out 
in  pursuit  of  Jeff.  Thompson."  The  diversion  had,  it  is  affirmed, 
been  ordered  by  his  superior,  leaving  the  time  and  manner  optional 
with  Gen.  Grant. 

The  force  consisted  of  two  brigades,  the  first  and  second -j 
the  first  consisting  of  the  twenty-seventh,  Col.  Buford,  thirtieth,  Col.. 
Fouke,  and  thirty-first,  Col.  Jno.  A.  Logan,  Illinois  volunteers,  to 
which  was  added  Capt.  Dollins'  company  of  Adams  county  cavalry, 
72  men  under  Lieut.  J.  R.  Collin,  and  Taylor's  battery  Chicago  light 
artillery,  six  guns,  and  114  men,  under  command  of  Brigadier  Gen. 
McClernand ;  the  second  composed  of  the  Illinois  twenty-second^ 
Col.  Dougherty,  and  seventh  Iowa,  Col.  Lauinan,  under  command 
of  Col.  Dougherty.  The  whole  force  numbered  2,S50  men  of  all 
arms.  The  Chicago  Evening  Journal  thus  narrates  the  battle  : 

"  The  design  was  to  reach  Belmont  just  before  daylight ;  but,  owing  to  unavoid 
able  delays  in  embarking,  it  was  8  o'clock  before  the  fleet  reached  Lucas  Bend,  the- 
point  fixed  upon  for  debarkation.  This  is  about  three  miles  north  of  Columbus, 
Ky.,  on  the  Missouri  side. 

"  The  enemy  were  encamped  on  the  high  ground  back  from  the  river,  and  about 
two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  landing.  From  their  position  they  could  easily  see 
our  landing,  and  had  ample  time  to  dispose  of  their  forces  to  receive  us,  which  they 
did  with  all  dispatch.  They  also  sent  a  detachment  of  light  artillery  and  infantry 
out  to  retard  our  march,  and  annoy  us  as  much  as  possible. 

"  A  line  of  battle  was  formed  at  once  on  the  levee,  Col.  Fouke  taking  command' 
of  the  center,  Col.  Buford  of  the  right,  and  Col.  Logan  of  the  left. 

"The  advance  from  the  river  bank  to  the  rebel  encampment  was  a  running  fight 
the  entire  distance,  the  rebels  firing  and  falling  back  all  the  way ;  while  our  troops 
gallantly  received  their  fire  without  flinching,  and  bravely  held  on  their  course,  re 
gardless  of  the  missiles  of  death  that  were  flying  thick  and  fast  about  them.  The 
way  was  of  the  most  indifferent  character,  lying  through  woods  with  thick  under 
brush,  and  only  here  and  there  a  path  or  a  rough  country  road. 


BATTLE    OF    BELMONT.  183 

"  The  three  divisions  kept  within  close  distance  of  each  other,  pressing  over  all 
obstacles  and  overcoming  all  opposition ;  each  striving  for  the  honor  of  being  first 
in  the  enemy's  camp.  This  honor  fell  to  the  right  division,  led  by  Col.  Buford.  It 
was  the  gallant  57th  Illinois,  who,  with  deafening  cheers,  first  waved  the  Stars  and 
Stripes  in  the  midst  of  the  rebels'  camping  ground. 

"The  scene  was  a  terribly  exciting  one — musketry  and  cannon  dealing  death  and 
destruction  on  all  sides ;  men  grappling  with  men  in  a  fearful  death-struggle ;  column 
after  column  rushing  eagerly  up,  ambitious  to  obtain  a  post  of  danger ;  officers 
riding  hither  and  thither  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  urging  their  men  on,  and  en 
couraging  them  to  greater  exertions ;  regiments  charging  into  the  very  jaws  of 
death  with  frightful  yells  and  shouts,  more  effective,  as  they  fell  upon  the  ears  of 
the  enemy,  than  a  thousand  rifle-balls — and,  in  the  midst  of  all,  is  heard  one  long, 
loud,  continuous  round  of  cheering  as  the  Star-Spangled  Banner  is  unfurled  in  the 
face  of  the  foe,  and  defiantly  supplants  the  mongrel  colors  that  had,  but  a  moment 
before,  designated  the  spot  as  rebel  ground. 

"  The  22d  boys  have  the  honor  of  having  silenced  and  captured  a  battery  of 
twelve  pieces,  which  had  been  dealing  destruction  with  marked  success.  The  30th 
had  been  badly  cut  up  by  this  battery,  and  were  straining  every  nerve  to  capture  it. 
They  expressed  considerable  disappointment  that  the  prize  was  snatched  from  them. 
They  turned  away  in  search  of  new  laurels ;  and,  in  charging  into  the  very  midst  of 
the  camp,  were  drawn  into  an  ambuscade,  where  they  were  again  suffering  terribly, 
though  maintaining  their  ground  unflinchingly,  when  the  31st  came  to  their  assist 
ance. 

"An  impetuous  and  irresistible  charge  was  then  made,  that  drove  the  rebels  in 
all  directions,  and  left  the  field  in  possession  of  the  Federal  forces.  The  rebel 
camps  were  fired,  and,  with  all  their  supplies,  ammunition,  baggage,  etc.,  were 
totally  destroyed. 

"The  discovery,  on  the  Kentucky  side,  that  we  were  in  possession  of  their  camp, 
led  to  an  opening  of  the  rebel  batteries  from  that  direction  upon  us.  Their  fire  was 
very  annoying ;  the  more  so  as  we  were  not  in  a  position  to  return  it. 

"Just  at  this  juncture,  the  report  was  brought  to  Gen.  Grant,  by  Lieut.  Fittman, 
of  the  30th  Illinois,  who  had,  with  his  company  (F),  been  on  a  scouting  duty,  that 
heavy  reinforcements  were  coming  up  to  the  rebels  from  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river.  Indeed,  the  report  was  also  made  that  the  enemy  were  pouring  over  the 
river  in  immense  numbers,  and  the  danger  was  imminent  that  our  retreat  would  be 
cut  off.  The  order  to  fall  back  to  the  boats  was  therefore  given,  but  not  a  moment 
too  soon. 

"The  way  was  already  filled  with  rebel  troops ;  and,  as  we  had  fought  our  way  up- 
to  the  encampment,  so  we  were  obliged  to  fight  back  to  our  boats,  and  against  des 
perate  odds.  But  the  men  were  not  lacking  in  courage,  and  fought  like  veterans, 
giving  ample  evidence  of  their  determination.  Every  regiment  of  Federal  troops 
suffered  more  or  less  severely  in  their  return  march  ;  but  the  general  opinion  pre 
vails  that  the  rebels  suffered  far  greater  losses  than  we. 


184  PATRIOTISM   OF  ILLINOIS. 

"  Wherever  they  made  a  stand,  we  put  them  to  flight ;  and,  although  we  lost  many 
brave  men,  either  killed,  wounded,  or  taken  prisoners,  we  made  at  least  two  of  their 
men  bite  the  dust  for  every  one  that  fell  from  our  ranks.  Our  regiments  all  reached 
their  boats,  though  with  considerably  thinned  ranks." 

In  his  official  report  General  Grant  says:  "  Our  loss  was  about 
84  killed,  150  wounded, — many  of  them  slightly — and  about  an 
equal  number  missing.  The  Brigade  reports  show  losses  as  follows : 

First  Brigade,  General  If  cClernand  commanding : 

KILLED.  WOUNDED.  MISSING.     TOTAL. 

27th  Regiment  Illinois 11  42  28            81 

30th  Regiment  Illinois 9  27  8            44 

31st  Regiment  Illinois 10  61  18            89 

Dollin's  cavalry 1  2  3 

Taylor's  battery 5  5 

31  137  54  222 

Second  Brigade,  Col.  Dougherty  commanding : 

22d  Regiment  Illinois..* 23  74  97 

7th  Regiment  Iowa 26  80  106 

49  154  203 

Total 80  391  54  525 

The  seventh  Iowa  fought  gallantly.  Its  Colonel  was  severely 
wounded  and  its  brave  Lieut.-Col.  Wentz  was  killed.  The  Illinois 
troops  maintained  the  honor  of  their  State.  "  Gen.  McClernand," 
says  Gen.  Grant,  "  was  in  the  midst  of  danger  throughout  the  en 
gagement,  and  displayed  both  coolness  and  judgment.  His  horse 
was  three  times  shot  under  him."  Col.  Dougherty,  at  the  head  of 
his  brigade,  was  three  times  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  Col. 
John  A.  Logan  gave  promise  of  the  military  ability  which  has  made 
him  prominent  among  the  double-starred  Generals  of  the  West. 
Major  McCluzken,  of  the  30th,  was  mortally  wounded.  Captains 
Brolaski  and  Markle  and  Lieut.  Dougherty  were  killed.  Col.  Bu- 
ford's  conduct  was  unexceptionable  and  accomplishing  a  difficult 
circuit,  was  the  first,  says  Gen.  McClernand,  to  throw  his  men  with 
in  the  enemy's  defences.  Col.  Fouke  bore  himself  gallantly.  His 
men  were  confronted  during  the  engagement  with  those  of  Col. 
John  V.  Wright,  of  the  13th  Tennessee.  The  two  Colonels  had 
served  together  in  Congress,  members  of  the  same  political  party. 


BATTLE    OF   BELMONT.  185 

When  they  separated  at  the  close  of  the  session  of  1860-1,  Wright 
said  to  his  friend,  "  Phil.,  I  expect  the  next  time  we  meet  will  be  on 
the  battle  field."  Wright  was  mortally  wounded,  and  sixty  of  his 
men  were  captured  by  the  regiment  of  his  former  friend !  Such 
are  the  results  of  civil  Avar !  Friend  against  friend — aye,  brother 
against  brother,  for  among  the  rebel  dead  on  the  field  of  Belrnont  a 
Union  surgeon  discovered  his  own  brother! 

Lieut.-Col.  Hart  commanded  the  22d  Illinois,  and  led  his  men 
gallantly  and  skillfully.  Taylor's  battery  gave  both  friends  and  foes 
prophecy  of  what  it  would  yet  accomplish,  and  Captain  Taylor  es 
pecially  mentions  Lieut.  P.  H.  White  and  his  immediate  command. 
Of  this  battery,  1st  Lieut.  Charles  M.  Everett  was  wounded 
mortally. 

The  additional  killed  and  wounded  Illinois  officers,  reported  by  the 
brigade  commanders  are,  killed — Captain  Thomas  G.  Markley,  Co. 
D,  30th  Regiment.  Wounded — Lieut.  Win.  Shipley,  Co.  A,  27th 
Regiment,  mortally;  Capt.  John  W.  Rigby,  Co.  F,  31st  Regiment, 
and  Capt.  W.  A.  Looney,  Co.  C ;  Captains  Challenor,  Abbott  and 
Hubbard,  with  Lieut.  Adams,  of  the  27th  Regiment. 

Gen.  Grant  makes  the  following  reference  to  the  gun-boats  which 
were  then  just  beginning  to  be  understood :  "  The  gun-boats  Tyler 
and  Lexington,  Captains  Walker  and  Stemble,  U.  S.  N.,  command 
ing,  conveyed  the  expedition  and  rendered  most  efficient  service. 
Immediately  upon  our  landing  they  engaged  the  enemy's  batteries 
and  protected  our  transports  throughout." 

The  result  of  the  conflict  may  be  stated  as  twofold.  First,  ac 
complishing  the  desired  diversion,  and  preventing  the  marching  of 
a  strong  rebel  force  to  the  reinforcement  of  Price  and  Thompson. 
Second,  showing  the  enemy  and  our  own  people  the  coolness  and 
bravery  of  our  men  under  circumstances  of  peril.  They  fairly  won 
a  brilliant  victory  though  compelled  by  overwhelming  numbers  to 
abandon  the  field  they  did  not  purpose  to  hold. 

The  rebel  loss  is  conceded  by  their  authorities  to  have  been  about 
one  thousand. 

Gen.  Hunter,  who  succeeded  Gen.  Fremont,  held  the  command 
only  temporarily,  and  Maj.-Gen.  H.  W.  Halleck  was  assigned  to  the 
Department,  and  organized  it  into  Military  Districts.  Gen.  Grant 


186  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

was  appointed  commander  of  the  "  District  of  Cairo,  including  all 
the  southern  part  of  Illinois,  that  part  of  Kentucky  west  of  the 
Cumberland  River  and  the  southern  part  of  Missouri,  south  of  Cape 
Girardeau."  He  arranged  the  commands  of  his  subordinates,  as 
signing  to  Col.  T.  H.  Cavanaugh,  of  the  6th  111.  cavalry,  command 
of  the  force  at  Shawneetown,  including  troops  stationed  alonsj  the 
Ohio  River  on  both  sides  cast  of  Caledonia,  and  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Cumberland,  head-quarters  to  be  at  Paducah,  Ky.  Brig. -Gen.  E.  A. 
Paine  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  force  at  Bird's  Point. 
His  men  were  carefully  drilled  and  distributed  in  readiness  for  the 
grand  campaign  about  to  be  inaugurated. 

On  the  10th  of  January  the  forces  under  the  direct  command  of 
Gen.  Me  demand  left  Cairo  in  transports  and  disembarked  at  Fort 
Jefferson. 

And  now  began  the  campaign  which  resulted  in  the  reduction  of 
Forts  Henry  and  Donelson,  and  rescued  the  Tennessee  and  Cumber 
land  Rivers  from  the  enemy,  and  thus  modified  the  movements  of 
later  campaigns  and  other  leaders.  These  remain  for  other  chapters. 

The  victory  of  Fort  Henry  followed  by  the  capture  of  Fort  Don 
elson  turned  the  eyes  of  the  nation  upon  the  rising  military  man  of 
the  west.  He  had  been  assailed,  his  private  habits  had  been  dis 
cussed,  but  he  was  successful,  and  that  too  under  circumstances 
requiring  more  than  fortune. 

On  the  14th  of  February  Gen.  Halleck  issued  an  order  creating 
the  District  of  West  Tennessee,  to  include  the  country  between  the 
Tennessee  and  Mississippi  Rivers  to  the  Mississippi  state  line,  and 
Cairo,  making  head-quarters  temporarily  at  Fort  Donelson,  or 
wherever  the  General  might  be.  Gen.  Grant  received  the  rank  of 
Major-General  of  Volunteers,  by  act  of  Congress,  bis  commission 
fitly  dating  from  the  surrender  of  Donelson. 

The  fearful  three-days'  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  followed  ;  a 
fight  in  which,  through  one  dark  dreary  day,  the  advantage  appeared 
to  be  with  the  rebels,  and  when  the  life  of  the  Government  hung 
trembling  upon  the  issue.  It  was  in  this  that  his  power  to  organize 
victory  in  the  midst  of  defeat,  to  retrieve  disaster,  to  conquer  by  the 
force  of  persistent  effort  came  out.  The  victory  was  complete  and 
the  name  of  Grant  was  at  once  written  among  those  of  great  cap- 


GRANT   AS   A    GENERAL.  187 

tains.  Henceforward  his  sphere  of  duty  was  to  widen  until  it 
should  include  all  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  His  promotion 
was  rapid  from  grade  to  grade,  until,  in  view  of  the  splendid  achieve 
ments  of  Vicksburg,  Chattanooga,  Lookout  Mountain,  and  Mission 
Ridge  he  received  the  grade  of  Lieutenant-General,  revived  by  act 
of  Congress. 

The  characteristics  of  this  eminent  soldier  can  be  but  seen  by  the 
careful  study  of  his  campaigns  and  reports,  and  that  too  when  they 
shall  be  fully  developed.  But  enough  has  been  done  to  warrant 
some  generalization  of  character.  What  has  given  him  success  ? 

I.  A  thorough  knowledge  of  military  science.     There  is  much  in 
genius,  but  for  the  management  of  a  great  campaign,  with  its  differ 
ent  armies,  there  must  be  the  scientific  knowledge  of  details.      Not 
merely  the  studies  of  the  academy,  but  the  careful  study  of  military 
history  as  made  by  great  leaders.      This  he  has,  and,  added  to  this 
was  fifteen  years  in  service  with  active  participation  in  the  triumphal 
marches  in  Mexico. 

II.  The  knowledge  of  men.     The  General  must  have  subordin 
ates.     He  must  be  brain,  they  must  be  hands.      He  must  will,  they 
must  act.      In  wielding  a  hundred  thousand  men  the  separate  corps 
are  almost  distinct  armies.      Woe  to  the  General  who  miscalculates 
the  power  of  his  subordinates  !      The  brain  may  be  clear,  but  the 
arm  palsied ;  the  will  may  decide  quickly  and  clearly,  but  they  who 
should  concrete  that  will  in  heroic  acts  may  fail.      Gen.  Grant  saw 
at    the   outset    the    ability   of    C.    F.   Smith,  and   trusted  him  in 
spite  of  popular  clamor.      He  would  trust  Sherman,  though  not  a 
few  persisted  that  he  lacked  every  element  of  a  General.      Atlanta 
and    Savannah   are    sufficient   answers.      He  saw  in  the  lamented 
McPherson  the  power  to  lead,  and  trusted  him.      "Give  the  best 
man  in  your  army  for  the  Shenandoah  Valley,"  said  Secretary  Stan- 
ton.     He  gave  him  Phil.  Sheridan,  and  the  result  is  history. 

III.  Clearness  of  judgment.      He  does  not  become  perplexed. 
His  perceptive  powers  are  remarkable  and  nothing  confuses  them. 
He  reasons  coolly  in  the  most  tumultuous  excitement,  and  failing  at 
one  point  he  turns  to  another,  and  can  scarcely  be  baffled.      With 
this,  is  fertile  invention  never  at  want  for  expedients  to  carry  out  a 
purpose. 


188  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

IV-  Genius.  This  is  manifested  in  daring  conception.  An 
illustration  is  stated  in  Mr.  Washburne's  speech  on  .the  Lieutenant- 
General  bill  in  Congress ;  referring  to  the  operations  below  Vicks 
burg: 

"  The  expedition  by  Grenada,  the  opening  of  the  canal,  and  the 
opening  of  the  bayous  had  not  succeeded ;  the  country  saw  ail  the 
attempts  to  flank  that  stronghold  likely  to  prove  abortive,  and  there 
was  great  anxiety.  J3ut  with  unshaken  confidence  in  himself  Gen 
eral  Grant  pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way,  and  with  entire  reli 
ance  upon  his  success  in  the  plan  finally  adopted,  and  which  could 
not  be  undertaken  until  the  river  and  bayous  should  sufficiently 
recede  to  enable  them  to  move.  Then,  sir,  was  seen  that  bold  and 
daring  conception  which  I  say  is  without  parallel  in  all  military  his 
tory.  It  was  to  send  his  army  and  his  transportation  by  land  on 
the  Lousiana  side  from  Milliken's  Bend  to  a  point  below  Vicks- 
burg,  and  then  run  the  frowning  batteries  of  that  rebel  Gibraltar, 
with  its  hundreds  of  guns,  with  his  transports,  and  thus  enable  him 
to  cross  the  river  below  Vicksburg,  and  get  on  to  the  shores  of 
the  Mississippi.  The  country  was  startled  at  the  success  which 
attended  the  running  of  those  batteries,  by  the  frail  Mississippi 
steamboats  used  as  transports,  and  the  rebels  stood  aghast  when 
they  saw  seven  or  eight  transports  and  all  of  Porter's  gunboats 
below  Vicksburg." 

He  never  boasts  of  strategy,  but  his  record  shows  brilliant  move 
ments,  that  could  only  have  emanated  from  a  daring  and  highly  per 
ceptive  genius. 

V.  Courage.     No  one  has  intimated  a  lack  of  personal  bravery, 
that  dashing  intrepidity  which  faces  peril  and  without  a  tremor  con 
fronts  danger.     He  is  unmoved  in  peril,  and  composed  in  the  melee 
of  battle.     But  above  this  he  has  that  higher  courage  which  springs 
from  principle,  which  is  immovable  in  defeat  as  in  victory,  which 
moves  steadily  to  the  accomplishment  of  results,  undeterred  by  the 
combinations  of  his  enemies. 

VI.  Power  over  men.     His  troops  believe  in  him.     He  impresses, 
quiet  and  modest  as  he  is,  his  confidence  upon  others.     Mighty  is 
faith.    He  enters  into  the  soldier's  life  and  the  soldier's  feelings.    He 
shares  his  rations,  endures  his  privations,  hears  his  complaints,  re 
dresses  his  wrongs.     He  indulges  no  hollow  display.     Mr.   Wash- 


FOWEK   OVER   MESF, 

burne  says :  "  When  he  left  his  bead-quarters  at  '  Smith's  plantation ' 
below  Vicksburg,  to  enter  on  that  great  campaign,  he  did  not  take 
with  him  the  trappings  and  paraphernalia  so  common  to  many  mili 
tary  men.  As  all  depended  on  quickness  of  movement,  and  as  it 
was  important  to  be  encumbered  with  as  little  baggage  as  possible,, 
he  set  an  example  to  all  under  him.  He  took  with  him  neither  a 
horse,  not  an  orderly,  nor  a  servant,  nor  a  camp-chest,  nor  an  over 
coat,  nor  a  blanket,  nor  even  a  clean  shirt.  His  entire  baggage  for 
six  days — I  was  with  him  at  that  time — was  a  tooth-brush.  He 
fared  like  the  commonest  soldier  in  his  command,  partaking  of  his 
rations  and  sleeping  on  the  ground  with  no  covering  but  the  canopy 
of  heaven.  How  could  such  a  General  fail  to  inspire  confidence  in 
an  army,  and  to  lead  it  to  victory  and  to  glory?" 

Such  are  some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  Lieutenant- General  of 
the  American  armies.  There  are  other  things  which  may  be  said, 
but  the  time  is  not  yet.  The  problems  of  the  leader  are  not  wholly 
solved*  His  past  is  his  country's.  His  place  in  history  is  however 
to  be  decided  by  events  yet  unaccomplished. 

This  much  was  due  to  the  achieved  results  of  the  life  and  public 
services  of  the  gallant  Colonel  of  the  21st  Regiment  of  Ills.  Vols, 
Those  services,  said  Mr.  Washburne,  "Are  familiar  as  household 
words.  Look  at  what  this  man  has  done  for  his  country,  for 
humanity,  for  civilization — -this  modest,  unpretending  General. 
*  *  He  has  fought  more  battles,  and  won  more  vic 
tories  than  any  man  living;  he  has  captured  more  prisoners  and 
taken  more  guns  than  any  General  of  modern  times.  To  us  in  the 
great  valley  of  the  West  he  has  rendered  a  service  in  opening  our 
great  channel  of  communication  to  the  ocean  so  that  the  great 
father  of  waters  now  goes  'unvexed  to  the  sea.'  Sir,  when  his  blue 
legions  crowned  the  crest  at  Vicksburg,  and  the  hosts  of  rebeldom 
laid  their  arms  at  the  feet  of  this  great  conqueror,  the  rebel  Con 
federacy  was  cut  in  twain  and  the  back-bone  of  the  rebellion 
broken." 


OHAPTEE    XI. 

THE  CUMBERLAND  AND  TENNESSEE. 

RECONNOISSANCE — PREPARATIONS — BATTLE  OF  MILLFORD — MT.  ZION — SILVER  CREEK — • 
COLUMBUS — GRANT'S  BRIGADING  ORDER — OTHER  FORCES — FORT  HENRY — GUNBOATS — 
LAND  FORCES — TENNESSEE  MUD — INSTRUCTIONS — THE  BOMBARDMENT — THE  WHITE 
FLAG — THE  SURRENDER — TIGIILMAN  AND  FOOTE — THE  COMMODORE  IN  THE  PULPIT— 
ESCAPE  OF  THE  CAMP — REBELS — IRON-CLADS — MUSTER  OF  FORCES  FOR  DONELSON — 
DONELSON — DEFENCES — REBEL  COMMANDERS — WAITING  FOR  THE  TRANSPORTS — THE 
GUNBOATS — THEY  RETIRE — GRIMES  ON  ADMIRAL  FOOTE — SEIGE — A  SORTIE — A  TER 
RIBLE  CONTEST — GEN.  SMITH'S  CHARGE — WHITE  FLAG— FLOYD  AND  PILLOW — COR* 

RESPONDENCE UNCONDITIONAL  SURRENDER TlIE  VICTORY — ITS  RESULTS SlANTON's 

LETTER — GRANT'S  REPOUT — THE  TIDES  OF  WAR — KENTUCKY — McGoFFiN— BETTER 
AND  TRUER  MEN — THE  LEGISLATURE — GEN.  ANDERSON — BUCKNER'S  ATTEMPT  TO 
SEIZE  LOUISVILLE — GEN.  ROSSEAU — HEGIRA — THE  SITUATION — GEN.  ANDERSON 
RETIRES — "CRAZY  SHERMAN" — A  "Bocus  CONVENTION" — "COUNCIL  OF  TEN" — 
BROAD  FARCE — A  "  STRONG  Ass" — GEN.  BUELL — DIVISIONS — THE  SECOND — THE 
THIRD — ROWLETT'S  STATION — MILL  SPRINGS — DEFEAT  OF  MARSHALL — MITCHELL'S 
MARCH  ON  BOWLING  GREEN — CROSSING  BARREN  RIVER — OCCUPATION — ON  TO  NASH 
VILLE — ITS  OCCUPANCY — A  REBEL  ACCOUNT — MITCHELL'S  AND  BUELL'S  FORCES. 

THE  reconnoissance  made  under  orders  of  General  Grant  con 
vinced  him  that  the  rebel  line  along  the  Tennessee  and  Cum 
berland  could  be  broken,  those  rivers  opened,  the  evacuation  of 
Columbus  compelled,  Nashville  captured,  and  the  enemy  forced  to 
make  his  base  elsewhere  than  on  those  water  lines.  Preparations 
were  made  for  a  errand  movement  which  was  delayed  a  short  time, 
awaiting  the  completion  of  some  gunboats. 

Meanwhile  other  stirring  events  were  transpiring.  Brigadier- 
General  Pope  had  charge  of  Central  Missouri,  and  on  the  ISih  of 
December,  1861,  fought  a  spirited  and  successful  engagement  at  Mill- 
ford,  Mo.,  which  resulted,  according  to  Major-General  Halleck's 
report,  in  taking  "thirteen  hundred  prisoners  including  three  Colo 
nels,  and  seventeen  captains,  one  thousand  stand  of  arms,  one  thou- 


THE    FORCE    BRIGADED.  191 

sand  horses,  sixty-five  wagons  and  a  large  quantity  of  baggage, 
tents  and  supplies."  General  Prentiss  had  command  in  North 
Missouri,  and  a  portion  of  his  force  had,  on  December  28th,  a 
hotly  contested  fight  with  the  enemy  at  Mount  Zion,  Boon  county, 
dispersing  and  driving  them.  On  the  8th  of  January,  1862,  Major 
Torrence  of  the  1st  Iowa  Cavalry  attacked  and  defeated  a  rebel 
force  at  Silver  Creek,  Missouri. 

Columbus,  Kentucky,  is  situated  upon  the  Mississippi  River,  about 
twenty  miles  below  Cairo.  It  was  seized  by  General  Polk,  Septem 
ber  4th,  and  so  fortified  as  to  be  termed  the  "Rebel  Gibraltar." 
Naturally  strong  for  defence,  it  was  made  almost  impregnable  by 
massive  works  and  heavy  guns.  Of  course  it  closed  the  Mississippi 
to  navigation  as  eifectually  as  though  its  waters  had  become  solid 
rock.  Its  possession  was  indispensable  to  the  Union  armies,  but  it 
was  to  be  taken  by  those  tactics  which  since  became  so  unpleasant 
at  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta.  The  capture  of  Fort  Henry  and  Fort 
Donelson  was  to  uncover  its  rear,  and  compel  its  abandonment  by 
the  forces  of  General  Polk.  The  gunboat  fleet  was  being  pressed 
to  completion  during  the  months  of  November,  December  and 
January,  and  thorough  reconnoissances  were  made  toward  Columbus, 
some  by  water,  and  one  in  force  by  land,  causing  the  Confederates 
to  concentrate  their  forces  for  the  defences  of  their  Gibraltar. 

General  Grant  had  matured  his  plan  for  the  campaign  of  the 
Tennessee  and  Cumberland,  and  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  his 
troops  occupied  the  ports  of  Paducah  and  Smithfield  at  the  mouth 
of  those  rivers.  He  issued  the  following  order  for  brigading 
them : 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS,  DISTRICT  OF  CAIRO, 

"  CAIRO,  February  1,  1862. 
"  [General  Order  No.  5.] 

"For  temporary  government,  the  forces  of  this  military  district  will  be  divided  and 
commanded  as  follows,  to  wit : 

"The  First  Brigade  will  consist  of  the  Eighth,  Eighteenth,  Twenty-seventh, 
Twenty-ninth,  Thirtieth,  and  Thirty-first  Regiments  of  Illinois  Volunteers, 
Schwartz's  and  Dresser's  batteries,  and  Stewart's,  Dollin's,  O'Harnett's,  and  Carrni- 
chael's  cavalry.  Colonel  R.  J.  Oglesby,  senior  colonel  of  the  brigade,  com 
manding. 

"  The  Second  Brigade  will  consist  of  the  Eleventh,  Twentieth,  Forty-fifth,  and 


192  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Forty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry,  Taylor's  and  McAllister's 
Artillery.  (The  latter  with  four  siege-guns.)  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  command 
ing. 

"  The  First  and  Second  Brigades  will  constitute  the  First  Division  of  the  District 
of  Cairo,  and  will  be  commanded  by  Brigadier-General  John  A.  McClernand. 

"TheTnird  Brigade  will  consist  of  the  Eighth  Wisconsin,  Forty-ninth  Illinois, 
Twenty-fifth  Indiana,  four  companies  of  artillery,  and  such  troops  as  are  yet  to 
arrive.  Brigadier-General  E  A.  Paine  commanding. 

"The  Fourth  Brigade  will  be  composed  of  the  Tenth,  Sixteenth,  Twenty-second, 
and  Thirty-third  Illinois,  and  the  Tenth  Iowa  Infantry;  Houtal ing's  battery  of  Light 
Artillery,  four  companies  of  the  Seventh  and  two  companies  of  the  First  Illinois 
Cavalry.  Colonel  Morgan  commanding. 

"General  E.  A.  Paine  is  assigned  to  the  command  of  Cairo  and  Mound  City,  and 
Colonel  Morgan  to  the  command  of  Bird's  Point. 

"By  order  of  U.  S.  GRANT,  Brig.-Gen,  Commanding. 

"  JOHN  A.  RAWLINS,  A.  A.-G." 

This  order  was  published,  and  no  pains  taken  to  prevent  its  fall 
ing  into  the  hands  of  the  rebels,  but  it  was  not  published  that  there 
were  divisions  organizing  under  Generals  C.  F.  Smith  and  Lew. 
Wallace  at  Paducah  and  Smithland.  Preparations  were  made  for 
a  combined  land  and  naval  attack  upon  Fort  Henry,  situated  on  the 
Tennessee  River,  near  the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  line.  It  stands 
on  low  ground,  above  high-water  mark,  just  below  a  bend  in  the 
river,  and  at  the  head  of  a  straight  stretch  of  about  two  miles  and 
commands  the  river  for  about  that  distance.  It  was  a  bastioned 
earth-work  enclosing  about  two  acres.  It  mounted  seventeen  guns 
including  one  ten-inch  columbiad,  throwing  a  roundshot  of  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty-eight  pounds  weight,  one  breech-loading  rifle  gun, 
carrying  a  sixty-pound  elongated  shot,  twelve  thirty-two  pounders, 
one  twenty-four  pounder,  rifled,  and  two  twelve-pounder  siege  guns. 
Most  of  the  guns  were  pivoted,  and  capable  of  being  played  in  any 
direction.  It  was  encompassed  by  a  deep  moat,  and  strongly  gar 
risoned  and  deemed  capable  of  resisting  any  assailing  force,  how 
ever  formidable. 

Late  on  Saturday  night,  February  1st,  the  gunboats  St.  Louis, 
Cincinnati-,  Carondolet,  Essex,  Tyler  and  Lexington,  left  Cairo  and 
proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tennessee  at  Paducah,  when 
they  were  joined  by  the  Conestoga.  The  fleet  was  commanded  by 
Commodore,  later  Rear-Admiral)  A.  H.  Foote,  as  gallant  a  seaman 


ORDER   OF   DIVISIONS.  193 

as  ever  trod  the  quarter-deck,  or  sailed  the  deep.  Strictly  tem 
perate,  a  God-fearing  and  God-loving  man,  he  could  be  trusted  with 
the  lives  of  men  and  the  honor  of  the  flag  anywhere.  In  1856  he 
punished  a  gross  insult  offered  our  flag  by  the  Chinese,  by  attacking 
and  chastising  with  his  three  hundred  seamen  and  twenty-two  guns, 
a  fort  manned  by  twenty-two  guns,  and  five  thousand  men. 
English  and  French  naval  officers  expressed  the  warmest  admiration 
for  his  gallantry.  In  preparing  his  Western  fleet,  his  labors  had 
been  immense,  and  at  last  he  took  it  into  the  conflict  but  par 
tially  prepared. 

The  land  forces  were  conveyed  from  Cairo  to  Paducah  on  trans 
ports,  and  from  them  the  whole  fleet  sailed  up  the  Tennessee,  swol 
len  and  muddy  toward  the  fort.  After  suitable  reconnoissance,  the 
squadron  was  moved  about  four  miles  below  the  fort,  where  the 
troops  landed  and  encamped  for  the  night.  A  violent  thunder 
storm  burst  upon  them ;  the  heavens  were  aglow  with  lightning  and 
the  rain  fell  in  torrents,  thoroughly  soaking  the  clay  so  as  to  render 
the  next  morning's  march  laborious  and  difficult.  The  General  com 
manding  ordered  the  first  division,  General  McClernand's,  includ 
ing  the  first  and  second  brigades,  to  take  a  position  on  the 
roads  from  Fort  Henry  to  Donelson  and  Dover,  to  prevent  the 
reinforcement  of  the  fort  or  the  escape  of  its  garrison,  and  to 
be  in  readiness  to  "  charge  and  take  Fort  Henry  by  storm  on  the 
receipt  of  orders."  The  second  division,  commanded  by  General 
C.  F.  Smith,  was  to  cross  the  river  and  move  up  the  western  shore, 
and  occupy  a  hill  overlooking  the  fort,  which  the  enemy  had  begun 
to  fortify,  and  then  to  send  a  portion  of  his  force  across  the  river  and 
reinforce  General  McClernand.  The  gunboats  were  to  shell  the 
fort  and  drive  the  enemy  from  the  guns.  The  Commodore  urged 
the  land  forces  to  start  in  advance  of  the  gunboats,  and  when  he 
ascertained  they  would  not,  said  pleasantly,  but  prophetically.  "  I 
will  take  the  fort  before  you  get  there." 

The  two  divisions  set  out  as  ordered.  The  first  made  every  exer 
tion  to  get  up  into  position  to  intercept  the  retreat  of  the  garrison, 
but  the  Tennessee  mud  was  too  deep.  Over  slippery  hills  and 
through  tenacious  swamps,  the  Illinois  boys  pressed  eagerly  for 
ward,  marching  to  the  music  of  Foote's  deep-mouthed  artillery  and 

n 


194:  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

the  reply  of  the  heavy  guns  from  Fort  Henry.  Suddenly  all  was 
still,  and  the  questions  ran  along  the  lines,  "  What  does  it  mean  ?  Is 
Foote  beaten?"  They  were  to  learn  that  the  majority  of  the  boast 
ing  garrison  had  fled  from  their  camp  and  that  the  remainder  had 
surrendered.  In  addition  to  mud,  McClernand  was  obstructed  by 
outer  lines  of  defense,  made  by  felling  the  timber  for  several  rods  in 
breadth,  until  the  piled  trunks  and  mingled  branches  made  a  barrier 
truly  difficult  to  scale. 

The  gunboats  moved  up  slowly,  firing  moderately,  until  within 
one  mile  of  the  fort,  when  they  opened  fire  in  earnest.  The  deep 
thunder  of  the  guns,  and  the  shrieking  of  the  hurtling  shells,  were 
echoed  by  the  high  hills  through  which  the  Tennessee  makes  its 
way.  The  iron  hail  struck  the  defenses  and  fell  within  them. 
The  artillery  of  the  fort  replied,  and  while  most  of  the  balls  rattled 
harmlessly  against  the  mailed  side  of  the  vessels,  one  24-pound  shot 
pierced  the  Essex,  penetrated  the  starboard  boiler,  and  disabled  it. 
Volley  after  volley  was  fired,  more  and  more  deadly  became  the  iron 
hail,  until  flesh  and  blood  could  endure  it  no  longer,  and  in  one  hour 
and  twelve  minutes  a  white  flag  was  raised,  which  was  hidden  by 
the  smoke.  In  a  few  moments,  however,  the  Commodore  discovered 
that  the  rebel  flag  was  down  and  that  firing  from  the  fort  had 
ceased. 

Captain  Phelps,  of  the  Conestoga,  with  a  party,  went  on  shore  in 
a  boat  and  was  met  by  Gen.  Tighlman,  who  surrendered  the  fort 
and  camp,  with  about  sixty  prisoners.  The  General  was  taken  in 
the  gig  to  the  Commodore's  ship  and  asked  what  terms  would  be 
granted. 

"  Unconditional  surrender,"  said  the  old  hero.  "  Well,  sir,  if  I 
must  surrender,  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  surrender  to  so  brave  an 
officer  as  you."  "You  do  perfectly  right  to  surrender,  but  I  should 
not  have  surrendered  to  you  on  any  condition,"  was  the  reply  of  the 
Commodore.  "  Why  so  ?  I  do  not  understand  you,"  said  the  Gene 
ral.  "  Because  I  was  fully  determined  to  capture  the  fort  or  go  to 
the  bottom." 

Brave  veteran,  whose  brilliant  services  were  to  last  only  long 
enough  to  cover  the  Western  gun-boat  fleet  with  imperishable  glory, 
the  answer  was  worthy  his  lion-hearted  courage  and  supreme  con- 


TIffi   COMMODORE   IN  THE   PULPIT.  195 

scieiitiousness.  One  of  the  reporters  who  was  at  Cairo,  relates  the 
following  incident:  "On  the  Sabbath  before  the  expedition  sailed, 
the  Commodore  attended,  as  usual,  worship  in  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  The  minister  did  not  make  his  appearance,  and  the  audi 
ence  became  restless.  The  Commodore  ascended  the  pulpit,  read  a 
portion  of  scripture,  and  offered  a  fervent  prayer.  He  then  de 
livered  a  brief  address*  from  the  text,  *  Let  not  your  heart  be 
troubled;  ye  believe  in  God ;  believe  also  in  me.'  He  specially 

*  A  correspondent  of  the  Northwestern  Christian  Advocate,  writing  under  date  of 
•Cairo,  Feb.  11,  1862,  thus  alludes  to  the  address: 

"Last  Sabbath—the  Sabbath  after  the  victory— a  congregation  assembled  at  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  this  place,  but  the  minister  expected  did  not  come.  As  I 
passed  up  the  street  on  my  way  to  the  Methodist  Church,  a  Presbyterian  brother 
hailed  me  and  informed  me  of  the  state  of  the  case,  and  requested  me,  if  possible, 
to  supply  their  lack  of  service.  I  promised  to  comply  as  soon  as  I  could  go  to  my 
quarters  and  return.  In  the  meanwhile,  the  congregation,  not  seeing  any  minister 
present,  became  restless,  and  Commodore  Foote,  seeing  the  state  of  affairs,  went 
into  the  pulpit  and  remarked,  that  rather  than  have  such  a  large  congregation  dis 
perse  without  any  religious  services,  he  would  conduct  them  himself.  On  my  return 
to  the  church,  seeing  a  gentleman  in  the  uniform  of  a  commodore  occupying  the 
pulpit  and  reading  from  the  Scriptures,  I  took  a  seat  in  the  body  of  the  church  and 
concluded  not  to  say  a  Avord.  Unaware  of  the  presence  of  any  minister,  the  Com 
modore  proceeded  with  the  services.  He  read  the' sixth  chapter  of  the  Gospel  of 
St.  John,  offered  a  brief,  earnest  prayer,  read  a  hymn,  and  then,  taking  as  a  text 
the  first  verse  of  the  chapter  he  had  read,  proceeded  to  address  the  congregation. 
The  remarks  were,  like  the  prayer,  brief  and  earnest,  occupying  about  fifteen 
minutes  time.  There  was  no  attempt  at  sermonizing,  but  I  venture  the  assertion 
that  few  sermons  delivered  that  day  were  more  successful  in  the  accomplishment  of 
the  true  object  of  all  sermon s— the  production  of  a  good  impression  upon  the  minds 
ef  those  who  hear.  Good  sense  and  an  honest  unfaltering  faith  in  the  Word  of  God 
Characterized  all  that  was  uttered.  Among  other  things,  the  Commodore  said  that 
on  the  morning  before  he  made  the  attack  upon  Fort  Henry,  he  prayed  and  wrestled 
with  God  until  he  was  confident  of  success.  He  felt  that  in  speaking  thus  he  was 
exposing  himself  to  ridicule  in  certain  quarters,  but  feeling,  as  he  did,  that  we  are 
dependent  upon  God,  as  individuals  and  as  a  nation,  and  that  without  his  blessing 
we  must  ignominiousiy  fail  in  the  great  work  before  us,  he  felt  it  his  duty  to  thus 
give  unpremeditated  Utterance  to  his  honest  convictions — he  believed,  and  therefore 
spoke,  the  audience  listened  with  deep  and  tearful  attention,  while  the  veteran 
Commodore  spoke,  in  plain  words  and  with  unaffected  earnestness,  of  our  depend 
ence  upon  God  and  the  obligations  we  are  under  to  recognize  his  supremacy  in  all 


196  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

urged  his  fellow  soldiers  to  constancy  in  duty  and  strong  trust  in  the 
Redeemer.  No  wonder  he  was  calm  in  peril  and  faithful  in  duty." 

The  completeness  of  the  victory  was  marred  only  by  the  escape 
of  the  rebel  force  from  the  camp,  which  hastily  retreated  before  the 
force  under  McClernand  came  up.  The  country  hailed  it,  however, 
with  gladness,  and  saw  in  it  the  new  power  which  was  henceforth 
to  assert  itself  in  war  and  to  affect  so  profoundly  the  question  of 
foreign  intervention — iron-armored  ships. 

The  gunboats  under  Capt.  Phelps  ascended  the  river  and  destroyed 
the  bridge  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad,  connecting  Bowling 
Green,  Memphis  and  Columbus,  and  steamed  beyond  it  to  Florence, 
Ala.  Two  rebel  boats  were  chased  so  closely  that  they  were  blown 
up  and  abandoned  by  their  owners ;  two  steamers  loaded  with  iron? 
for  rebel  use,  were  captured,  and  three  were  burned  at  Florence. 

It  was  understood  that  Fort  Donelson  was  next  to  be  attacked, 
and  the  country  waited  in  breathless  suspense.  General  Grant  or 
dered  all  available  troops  in  his  district  to  be  sent  to  his  command. 
On  the  llth  of  February,  reinforcements  left  Cairo  under  orders  to 
join  him  on  the  Kentucky  strip  lying  between  the  Cumberland  and 
Tennessee.  The  right  Aving  of  Buell's  army,  under  Gen.  Crittenden, 
took  steamers  at  Calhoun,  on  Green  River,  descended  it  to  the  Ohio, 
down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Cumberland,  where  a  juncture  with  Grant 
was  effected.  Troops  were  also  sent  from  St.  Louis  and  Cincinnati, 
until  Grant  found  himself  at  the  head  of  a  large  army,  composed  of 
the  elite  of  Western  troops.  Illinois  was  well  represented ;  it  had 
present : 

Infantry — 7th,  Col.  Jno.  Cook,  acting  Brigadier — Lieutant-Colonel  Andrew  J. 
Babcock,  commanding ;  8th,  Col.  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  acting  Brigadier — Lieut.-Col. 
Frank  L.  Rhodes,  commanding;  9th,  Col.  Augustus  Mersey;  10th,  Col.  James  D. 
Morgan;  llth,  Col.  Thomas  E.  G.  Ransom;  12th,  Col.  John  McArthur;  1 6th,  Col. 
Robert  F.  Smith ;  18th,  Col.  Michael  Lawler ;  20th,  Col.  C.  C.  Marsh;  22d,  Col. 
Henry  Dougherty  (wounded  at  Belmont) — Lieut.-Col.  H.  E.  Hart,  commanding;  27th, 
Nap.  B.  Buford  ;  28th,  Col.  Armory  K.  Johnson ;  29th,  Col.  James  S.  Reardon ;  30th, 
Col.  Phil.  B.  Fouke  (absent) — Lieut.  Col.  E.  S.  Dennis,  commanding  ;  31st,  Col.  John 
A.  Logan;  32d,  Col.  John  Logan;  41st,  Col.  Isaac  C.  Pugh;  45th.  Col.  John  E. 
Smith ;  46th,  Col.  John  A.  Davis ;  48th,  Col.  I.  N.  Haynie ;  49th,  Col.  W.  R.  Morrison 
(wounded)— Lieut.-Col.  Thos.  G.  Allen,  commanding ;  50th,  Col.  Moses  M.  Bane  ; 
52d,  Lieut.-Col.  Johti  S.  Wilcox ;  55th,  Col.  David  Stuart;  57th,  Col.  S.  D. Baldwin 


FORT   DONELSON — ITS    STRENGTH.  197 

Cavalry  Regimervts — 2d,  Col.  S.  Noble;  3d,  Col.  E.  A.  Carr;  4th,  Col.  T.  Lyle 
Dickey ;  7th,  Col.  Wm.  P.  Kellogg. 

Artillery  Batteries — Schwartz's,  Dresser's,  Taylor's,  McAllister's,  Richardson's, 
Willard's,  BuelPs — in  all  34  guns. 

The  fort  was  of  great  strength ;  the  N.  Y.  Times  thus  described  it : 

"  Fort  Henry  was  thought  to  be  almost*  a  Gibraltar,  but  its 
strength  is  weakness  when  compared  to  that  of  Donelson.  Along 
Dover,  the  Cumberland  river  runs  nearly  North.  A  half-mile  or  so 
below  it  makes  a  short  bend  to  the  west  for  some  hundred  yards 
and  then  turns  again  and  pursues  its  natural  course  due  north. 
In  this  bend,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  and  commanding  it  to 
the  north,  are  two  water-batteries,  side  by  side,  and  nearly  down  to 
the  water's  edge. 

"  The  main  battery  has  nine  guns,  all  looking  straight  down  the 
river.  The  left-hand  gun  is  a  10-inch  Columbiad,  the  rest  are 
32-pounders.  The  other  battery  has  three  guns — the  middle  one  a 
formidable  rifled  6 4- Columbiad,  the  others  64-pound  howitzers.  All 
these  guns  are  protected  by  breast- works  of  immense  thickness,  the 
tops  of  which  are  composed  of  coffee  sacks  filled  with  earth.  Back 
of  these  batteries  the  shore  rises  with  a  pretty  steep  ascent,  until  it 
forms  a  hill  whose  top  is  pretty  nearly  or  quite  one  hundred  feet 
above  the  water.  On  the  top  of  this  hill  is  Fort  Donelson,  an  irregu 
lar  work,  which  encloses  about  one  hundred  acres.  The  only  guns 
in  the  fort  are  four  light  siege  guns,  a  12-pound  howitzer,  two 
24-pound  guns.,  and  one  64-pound  howitzer.  West  of  the  fort,  in 
the  direction  occupied  by  General  Grant,  and  south,  toward  General 
McClernand's  position,  the  country  is  a  succession  of  hills.  For 
several  hundred  yards  around  the  fort  the  timber  has  all  been  cut 
down,  so  as  to  afford  a  fair  sweep  for  the  Confederate  guns.  Sur 
rounding  the  whole  fort  and  town,  and  distant  from  the  former  about 
a  mile,  is  a  trench  for  riflemen,  which  runs  completely  around  from 
the  river  bank,  above  Dover,  almost  to  a  point  near  the  river  some 
distance  below  the  water  batteries.  Directly  west  of  the  fort  and 
within  the  rifle  pit,  are  formidable  abattis,  which  would  render  an 
advance  from  that  direction  almost  an  impossibility." 

Within  these  works  were  some  20,000  of  the  fighting  men  of  the 
Southwest — from  Louisiana,  Tennessee,  Mississippi,  Alabama  and 
Kentucky,  commanded  by  Floyd,  Pillow,  Buckner,  and  Bush  rod  R. 


PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

Johnson.     Floyd,  who  had  proved  himself  a  thief  and  a  perjurer, 
was  here  to  prove  himself  a  poltroon. 

This  fort,  so  strong  by  nature  and  art,  General  Grant  and  Com 
modore  Foote  determined  to  reduce;  that  entrenched  force  they 
meant  to  destroy  or  capture. 

On  the  12th  of  February,  Gen.  Grant  began  his  march  from  Fort 
Henry  to  Fart  Donelson,  twelve  miles,  and  at  noon  his  troops  were 
in  the  rear  of  the  rebel  batteries.  Selecting  a  position  about  two 
miles  from  the  outworks,  they  extended  their  lines  in  a  semi-circle, 
enclosing  the  fort.  This  of  course  brought  him  into  contact  with 
rebel  pickets  and  they  moved  forward  with  almost  a  constant  skir 
mish. 

Through  Wednesday  and  Thursday  the  two  divisions  awaited  the 
coming  of  the  gunboats  and  transports  with  the  troops  to  form  the 
third  division,  and  on  Friday,  the  14th,  they  arrived.  There  were 
now  three  divisions,  commanded  by  Generals  McClernand,  C.  F. 
Smith  and  Lew.  Wallace.  The  Carondelet  arrived  on  Thursday, 
and  at  once  engaged  the  water  batteries,  receiving  one  shot  through 
a  port-hole,  wounding  eight  men,  and  throwing  one  hundred  and 
two  shells  into  the  enemy's  works.  The  next  day  Commodore  Foote 
moved  his  seven  gunboats  within  range,  the  four  iron-dads  lead 
ing,  the  wooden  ones  following.  Gradually  they  brought  on  the 
contest.  They  showered  shell  as  hail-stones  are  sifted  from  the 
clouds.  They  came  within  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  water- 
batteries  and  were  silencing  them,  and  here,  as  at  Fort  Henry,  it 
seemed  the  navy  was  destined  to  the  honor  of  the  capture,  when  a  shot 
disabled  the  Louisville,  by  destroying  its  steering  apparatus.  Another 
shot  disabled  the  flag-ship  St.  Louis,  and  both  boats  rolled  in  drift 
ing  helplessness.  The  fleet,  almost  victorious,  was  compelled  to 
draw  off.  The  Commodore,  or  Admiral,  as  we  may  now  term  him,  was 
struck  in  the  foot  and  wounded,  and  from  that  wound  he  never  fully 
recovered. 

Senator  Grimes,  of  Iowa,  in  a  speech  in  the  U.  S.  Senate,  said  : 
"  Though  wounded  himself,  and  his  gunboats  crippled,  yet  with  the 
glory  of  the  gallant  combat  on  his  brow,  he  indulged  in  no  repin- 
ings,  for  his  personal  misfortunes  or  laudation  of  his  successes ;  but 
like  a  true  hero,  he  thought  only  of  his  men.  In  a  letter  written  the 


199 

morning  after  the  battle,  to  a  friend,  lie  said :  '  While  I  hope  ever 
to  rely  on  Him  who  controls  all  things,  and  to  say  from  the  heart, 
Not  unto  us  but  unto  thee,  0  Lord,  belongs  the  glory,  yet  I  feel 
sadly  at  the  result  of  our  attack  upon  Fort  Donelson.  To  see  the 
brave  officers  and  men,  who  say  they  will  go  wherever  I  will  lead 
them,  fall  by  my  side,  makes  me  feel  sad  to  lead  them  almost  to  cer 
tain  death.'  " 

The  General  Commanding  now  determined  to  invest  the  fort  and 
reduce  it  by  regular  seige,  or  await  the  repair  and  co-operation  of 
the  gunboats,  and  accordingly  made  a  change  in  the  disposition  of 
his  men.  But  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  a  sortie  was  made  by  the 
garrison,  falling  upon  his  extreme  right  in  overpowering  numbers, 
causing  the  Union  troops  to  give  way,  and  capturing  two  batteries. 
Reinforcements  were  brought  up,  and  a  terrible  and  bloody  struggle 
followed  resulting  in  recapturing  the  lost  guns,  with  three  exceptions. 
Reinforcements  swarmed  out  of  the  fort,  arid  again  the  wearied  be- 
seigers  gave  way,  while  their  foe  came  on  with  wildest  yells,  flank 
ing  the  Union  forces,  seeming  to  have  victory  within  their  grasp. 
Other  loyal  troops  came  up,  but  in  the  confusion  friends  fired  on 
each  other,  and  still  they  were  pressed  back. 

The  reports  were  handed  to  General  Grant  at  his  head-quarters, 
and,  comparing  them  he  is  said  to  have  remarked  to  one  of  his 
staff,  "  Good :  we  have  them  now  exactly  where  we  want  them." 
He  ordered  General  C.  F.  Smith  to  make  an  assault  on  the  left  of 
the  line,  and  carry  it,  no  matter  at  what  sacrifice,  and  made  disposi 
tions  on  the  right  to  recover  the  lost  ground  and  gain  a  position  hi 
front  from  which  his  men  could  not  be  forced. 

Smith  led  his  men  to  the  charge.  They  moved  in  grim  silence, 
with  no  roll  of  fire-arms,  and  carried  the  position  at  the  point  of  the 
bayonet,  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  waved  from  the  works,  and 
through  the  smoke  of  the  battle  gleamed  the  triumphant  stars  of 
the  Republic ! 

On  the  right  General  Wallace  was  pressing  forward  to  regain 
what  had  been  lost  earlier  in  the  day,  and  as  the  column  advanced 
word  was  brought  that  Smith  was  within  the  intrenchments !  The 
announcement  was  greeted  with  a  ringing  cheer,  and  up  the  hill 
went  those  men,  with  the  Zouave  regiments,  8th  Missouri  and  llth 


200  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

Indiana  in  advance.  No  earthly  power  could  stay  them.  The  sul 
len,  angry,  beaten  foemen  were  driven  within  their  works ;  the  day 
went  down  with  our  men  in  better  position  than  before.  Success  had 
been  won  at  fearful  cost,  but  it  was  won.  That  night  Floyd,  true 
to  his  antecedents,  stole  away — the  most  worthless  theft  he  ever 
made.  He  whiningly  insisted  that,  in  view  of  his  relations  to  the 
Federal  government,  it  would  not  do  for  him  to  be  captured,  and  he 
surrendered  the  command  to  Pillow.  This  hero  decided  to  accom 
pany  his  compatriot,  and  turned  over  his  authority  to  Buckner, 
who,  with  Bushrod  Johnson,  refused  to  desert  his  men.  The  two 
seniors,  with  a  few  chosen  troops,  made  their  way  to  a  steamer  and 
escaped. 

Our  brave  men,  with  stiffening  wounds,  slept  on  their  arms  mean 
ing,  when  daylight  came,  to  enter  the  fort,  but  daylight  found  a  flag 
of  truce  floating  from  the  works.  The  following  correspondence 
passed  between  the  commanders  : 

GENERAL  BUCKNER  TO  GENERAL  GRANT. 

"HEAD-QUARTERS,  FORT  DONELSON,) 
"February  16,  1862.     f 

"Sin: — In  consideration  of  all  the  circumstances  governing  the  present  situation 
of  affairs  at  this  station,  I  propose  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  Federal  forces 
the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  agree  upon  terms  of  capitulation  of  the  forces 
and  fort  under  my  command,  and  in  that  view  suggest  an  armistice  until  twelve 
o'clock  to-day. 

"I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

44  S.  B.  BUCKNER,  Brig. -Gen.  C.  S.  A. 

"Jb  Brigadier -General  Grant,  commanding  tlie  United  /States  forces  near  Fort 
Donelson. 

To  the  bearer  of  this  dispatch  General  Buckner  gave  the  follow 
ing  orders : 

"HEAD-QUARTERS,  FORT  DONELSON,) 
"February  16,  1862.     J 

"Major  Cashy  will  take  or  send  by  an  officer,  to  the  nearest  picket  of  the  enemy 
the  accompanying  communication  to  General  Grant,  and  request  information  of  the 
point  where  future  communication  may  reach  him ;  also  inform  him  that  my  head 
quarters  will  be,  for  the  present,  in  Dover. 

"S.  B.  BUCKNER,  Brigadier-General. 
",Have  the  white  flag  hoisted  on  Fort  Donelson,  not  on  the  battery. 

"S.  B.  BUCKNER,  Brigadier-General. 


THE    SURRENDER.  201 

The  answer  of  General  Grant  was  made  at  once,  and  has  passed 
into  immortality  with  the  memorable  sayings  of  brave  and  patriotic 
men. 

"HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  IN  THE  FIELD,) 
"Camp  near  Donelson,  Feb.  16,  1862.     j" 

"  To  General  8.  B.  Buckner,  Confederate  Army : 

"Yours  of  this  date,  proposing  an  armistice  and  appointment  of  commissioners  to 
settle  terms  of  capitulation,  is  just  received.  No  terms,  other  than  an  unconditional 
and  immediate  surrender,  can  be  accepted.  I  propose  to  move  immediately  upon  your 
works. 

"I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"U.  S.  GRANT,  Brig. -Gen.  U.  S.  A.,  Commanding." 

General  Buckner  was  not  pleased,  but  he  saw  no  escape.  The 
Federal  troops  were  not  to  be  disloged  from  their  positions,  and  a 
few  hours  must  bring  the  carnage  of  a  resistless  storming  assault. 
He  therefore  wrote  as  follows : 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS,  DOVER,  TENNESSEE,) 
"February  16,  1862.     f 

"  To  Brig. -Gen.  U.  S.  Grant,  U.  8.  A.  : 

"SiR: — The  distribution  of  the  forces  under  my  command,  incident  to  an  unex 
pected  change  of   commanders,  and  the  overwhelming  force  under  your  command, 
compel  me,  notwithstanding  the  brilliant  success  of  the  Confederate  arms  yester 
day,  to  accept  the  ungenerous  and  unchivalrous  terms  which  you  propose. 
"  I  am,  sir,  your  very  obedient  servant, 

"S.  B.  BUCKNER,  Brig.-Gen.  C.  S.  A." 

It  was  a  magnificent  victory.  It  gave  the  Union  army  nearly 
15,000  prisoners  of  war;  it  gave  it  one  hundred  and  forty-six  guns, 
some  of  the  largest  caliber ;  it  gave  it  a  fort  of  almost  fabulous 
strength ;  it  broke  the  line  of  rebel  defence ;  compelled  the  evacua 
tion  of  Columbus  and  placed  Nashville  at  the  mercy  of  Federal  bay 
onets.  Grant  and  Foote  desired  immediately  to  "  move  upon  its 
works,"  but  General  Halleck  refused  permission.  As  the  telegraph 
flashed  the  news  of  the  surrender  the  country  was  wild  with  excite 
ment.  Bells  rang,  bonfires  blazed;  strong  men  embraced  each 
other  on  the  streets  and  wept  and  shouted.  Mr.  Stanton,  Sec 
retary  of  War,  said:  "We  may  well  rejoice  at  the  recent  victories, 
for  they  teach  us  that  battles  are  to  be  now  won,  and  by  us,  in  the 
same  and  only  manner  that  they  were  ever  won  by  any  people, 
or  in  any  age,  since  the  days  of  Joshua,  by  boldly  pursuing  and 


202  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

striking  the  foe.  What,  by  the  blessing  of  Providence,  I  conceive 
to  be  the  true  organization  of  victory  and  military  combination,  to 
end  this  war,  was  declared  in  a  few  words  by  Gen.  Grant  to  Gen. 
Buckner,  '  I  propose  to  move  immediately  on  your  works?  " 

There  were  critics  who  "  smelt  the  battle  from  afar,"  and  piled 
condemnation  on  its  chief,  or  "  damned  him  with  faint  praise,"  but 
their  criticisms  little  harmed  the  General  who  presented  15,000 
prisoners  of  war  and  a  hundred  and  forty-six  cannon  as  the  defence 
of  his  strategy. 

The  following  are  a  few  among  the  many  incidents  recited  of  the 
battle. 

On  Saturday,  a  desperate  charge  was  made  on  one  of  the  guns  of 
Taylor's  battery,  served,  among  others,  by  Lieut.  Heartt,  of  Chicago, 
and  it  was  temporarily  captured.  Heartt  seized  a  rope  and  sprang 
in  among  the  captors  and  made  it  fast  to  the  piece  and  all  hands 
laid  hold  and  drew  off  their  "  speaking  trumpet"  in  triumph. 

Another  of  the  battery,  who  had  received  a  wound  in  the  leg, 
walked  more  than  a  mile  to  the  hospital,  had  the  ball  extracted,  and 
desired  to  go  back,  but  was,  of  course,  refused  by  the  surgeon. 
"Come,"  said  the  artillerist,  "put  on  some  of  your  glue  and  let  me 
go  back." 

One  of  McAllister's  ho witzer  battery  met  a  rebel  cannonier,  and 
said  to  him,  "  Halloo !  where  was  your  battery  stationed  ?"  The 
rebel  pointed  out  the  situation.  "What!  over  there,"  said  howit 
zer;  "then  you  must  have  been  the  fellows  who  were  popping  us 
so  yesterday  Did  you  see  any  little  24-pound  shells  over  your 
way?"  "Well,  I  guess  we  did,  and  plenty  of  them,"  and  the  two 
stood  within  the  captured  works  and  discussed  the  comparative 
merits  of  six-pound  shot  and  twenty-four-pound  shell,  from  a  pro 
fessional  stand-point. 

A  youth  from  John  A.  Logan's  Regiment  (31st)  received  a  mus 
ket-shot  wound  in  the  right  thigh,  passing  through  the  intervening 
flesh  and  lodging  in  the  left  thigh.  He  went  to  the  rear,  and  asked 
a  surgeon  to  dress  his  wound  at  once,  and  say  nothing  about  it  to 
others,  for  he  was  going  right  back  into  the  fight.  The  Doctor  re 
monstrated,  but  the  boy  told  him  he  had  fired  twenty-two  rounds 
after  receiving  his  wound,  and  could  fire  as  many  more  after  it  was 


A   NEW   ENGLAND   TRIBUTE.  20B 

dressed.  It  was  dressed  and  lie  went  back,  and  disposed  of  his 
ammunition  to  the  best  advantage,  and  after  two  or  three  days  came 
again  to  have  his  wound  looked  after,  and  continued  in  duty. 

Young  Bullard,  of  the  8th,  was  shot  in  the  breast  by  a  minie 
ball,  bleeding  internally  as  well  as  externally.  He  was  carried  to  a 
hospital.  When  he  knew  he  must  die  in  a  few  hours  he  clung  to 
Hfe,  but  said  to  the  lady  who  cared  for  him,  "  If  I  could  only  see 
my  mother — if  I  could  only  see  my  mother — before  I  die,  I  would  be 
better  satisfied."  Said  she,  "  You  die  in  a  good  cause — you  die  for 
your  country."  "Yes,"  said  the  brave  boy  as  the  gleam  of  glory 
lighted  up  his  wan  face ;  "  Yes,  I  am  proud  to  die  for  my  country." 

A  New  Englander,  reading  the  three  following  dispatches,  wrote 
the  accompanying  lines  : 

"McClernand's  division,  composed  of  Oglesby's,  Wallace's,  and  McArthur's  brig 
ades,  suffered  terribly.  They  were  composed  of  the  Eighth,  Ninth,  Eleventh, 
Eighteenth,  Twentieth,  Twenty-first,  Thirtieth,  Thirty-first,  Forty-fifth,  Forty-eighth 
and  Forty-ninth  Regiments." 

"The  Eighth,  Eighteenth,  Twentieth,  and  Thirty-first  Illinois  regiments  occupied 
a  position  above  the  fort." 

"The  four  Illinois  regiments  held  their  ground  full  three  hours.  Nearly  one-third 
had  been  killed  and  wounded.  Yet  the  balance  stood  firm." 

"0  gales  that  dash  th'  Atlantic's  swell 

Along  our  rocky  shores  ! 
Whose  thunders  diapasons  well 
New  England's  glad  hurrahs — 

"Bear  to  the  prairies  of  the  West 

The  echoes  of  our  joy, 
The  prayer  that  springs  in  every  breast : 
'God  bless  thee — Illinois  !' 

"Oh  !  awful  hours,  when  grape  and  shell 

Tore  through  th'  unflinching  line ; 
1  Stand  firm,  remove  the  men  who  fell, 
Close  up,  and  wait  the  sign.' 

"It  came  at  last,  'Now,  lads,  the  steel;* 

The  rushing  hosts  deploy ; 
'  Charge,  boys  !' — the  broken  traitors  reel- 
Huzza  for  Illinois ! 

"  In  vain  thy  rampart,  Donelson, 

The  living  torrent  bars  ; 
It  leaps  the  wall,  the  fort  is  won, 
Up  go  the  Stripes  and  Stars, 


204:  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

"Thy  proudest  mother's  eyelids  fill, 

As  dares  her  gallant  boy, 
And  Plymouth  Rock  and  Bunker  Hill 
Yearn  to  thee — Illinois." 


GENERAL  GRANT'S  REPORT. 

"  HE  AD- QUARTERS,  ARMY  IN  THE  FIELD,  ) 
"Fort  Donclson,  February  16,  1862.      j" 

"Gen.  Gf.  Wl  Outturn,  Chief  of  Staff,  Department  of  Missouri: 

"  GENERAL  : — I  am  pleased  to  announce  to  you  the  unconditional 
surrender,  this  morning,  of  Fort  Donelson,  with  twelve  to  fifteen 
thousand  prisoners,  at  least  forty  pieces  of  artillery,  and  a  large 
amount  of  stores,  horses,  mules,  and  other  public  property. 

"  I  left  Fort  Henry  on  the  12th  instant,  with  a  force  of  about  fifteen 
thousand  men,  divided  into  two  divisions,  under  the  command  of 
Generals  McClernand  and  Smith.  Six  regiments  were  sent  around 
by  water  the  day  before,  convoyed  by  a  gunboat,  or  rather  started 
one  day  later  than  one  of  the  gunboats,  with  instructions  not  to 
pass  it. 

"  The  troops  made  the  march  in  good  order,  the  head  of  the  column 
arriving  within  two  miles  of  the  fort  at  twelve  o'clock  M.  At  this 
point  the  enemy's  pickets  were  met  and  driven  in. 

"  The  fortifications  of  the  enemy  were  from  this  point  gradually 
approached  and  surrounded,  with  occasional  skirmishing  on  the  line. 
The  following  day,  owing  to  the  non-arrival  of  the  gunboats  and 
reinforcements  sent  by  water,  no  attack  was  made ;  but  the  invest 
ment  was  extended  on  the  flanks  of  the  enemy,  and  drawn  closer  to 
his  works,  with  skirmishing  all  day.  The  evening  of  the  1 3th,  the 
gunboats  and  reinforcements  arrived.  On  the  14th,  a  gallant  at 
tack  was  made  by  Flag-Officer  Foote  upon  the  enemy's  works  with 
his  fleet.  The  engagement  lasted  probably  one  hour  and  a  half,  and 
bid  fair  to  result  favorably  to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  when  two  un 
lucky  shots  disabled  two  of  the  armored  gunboats,  so  that  they  were 
carried  back  by  the  current.  The  remaining  two  were  very  much 
disabled  also,  having  received  a  number  of  heavy  shots  about  the 
pilot-house  and  other  parts  of  the  vessels.  After  these  mishaps,  I 
concluded  to  make  the  investment  of  Fort  Donelson  as  perfect  as 
possible,  and  partially  fortify  and  await  repairs  to  the  gunboats. 


EEFO&T.  20'5 

This  plan  was  frustrated,  however,  by  the  enemy  making  a  most 
vigorous  attack  upon  our  right  wing,  commanded  by  General  J.  A, 
McClernand,  with  a  portion  of  the  force  under  General  Lew.  Wallace, 
The  enemy  were  repelled  after  a  closely  contested  battle  of  several 
hours,  in  which  our  loss  was  heavy.  The  officers,  and  particularly 
field  officers,  suffered  out  of  proportion.  I  have  not  the  means  yet 
of  determining  our  loss  even  approximately,  but  it  cannot  fall  far 
short  of  one  thousand  two  hundred  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 
Of  the  latter,  I  understand  through  General  Buckner,  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  were  taken  prisoners.  I  shall  retain  enough  of  the 
enemy  to  exchange  for  them,  as  they  were  immediately  shipped  off 
and  not  left  for  recapture. 

"About  the  close  of  this  action  the  ammunition  in  the  cartridge- 
boxes  gave  out,  which,  with  the  loss  of  many  of  the  field  officers, 
produced  great  confusion  in  the  ranks.  Seeing  that  the  enemy  did 
not  take  advantage  of  this  fact,  I  ordered  a  charge  upon  the  left — • 
enemy's  right — with  the  division  under  General  C.  F.  Smith,  which 
Was  most  brilliantly  executed,  and  gave  to  our  arms  full  assurance 
of  victory.  The  battle  lasted  until  dark,  giving  us  possession  of 
part  of  their  intrenchments.  An  attack  was  ordered  upon  their 
other  flank,  after  the  charge  of  General  Smith  was  commenced,  by 
the  divisions  under  Generals  McClernand  and  Wallace,  which,  not 
withstanding  the  hours  of  exposure  to  a  heavy  fire  in  the  forepart 
of  the  day,  was  gallantly  made,  and  the  enemy  further  repulsed, 
At  the  points  thus  gained,  night  having  come  on,  all  the  troops  en 
camped  for  the  night,  feeling  that  a  complete  victory  would  crown 
their  labors  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning.  This  morning,  at  an  early 
hour,  General  S.  B.  Buckner  sent  a  message  to  our  camp  under  a 
flag  of  truce,  proposing  an  armistice,  &c.  A  copy  of  the  correspon 
dence  which  ensued  is  herewith  accompanied. 

"I  cannot  mention  individuals  who  specially  distinguished  them 
selves,  but  leave  that  to  division  and  brigade  officers,  whose  reports 
will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  received.  To  division  commanders, 
however,  Generals  McClernand,  Smith,  and  Wallace,  I  must  do  the 
justice  to  say  that  each  of  them  was  with  his  command  in  the 
midst  of  danger,  and  was  always  ready  to  execute  all  orders,  no 
matter  what  the  exposure  to  himself. 


206  PATRIOTISM  Otf   ILLINOIS. 

"  At  the  hour  the  attack  was  made  on  General  McClernand's  com- 
inand,  I  was  absent,  having  received  a  note  from  Flag- Officer  Foote, 
requesting  me  to  go  and  see  him,  he  being  unable  to  call. 

"My  personal  staff— Col.  J.  D.  Webster,  Chief  of  Staff;  Colonel 
J.  Riggin,  Jr.,  Volunteer  Aid;  Captain  J.  A.  Rawlins,  A.  A,  Gen 
eral  ;  Captains  C.  B.  Lagow  and  W.  S.  Hillyer,  Aids,  and  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel  V.  B.  MePherson,  Chief  Engineer — all  are  deserving 
of  personal  mention  for  their  gallantry  and  services. 

"  For  full  details  and  reports  and  particulars,  reference  is  made  to 
the  reports  of  the  Engineer,  Medical  Director  and  commanders  of 
brigades  and  divisions,  to  follow. 

"  I  am,  General,  very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"IT.  S.  GRANT,  Brigadier-General." 

It  is  proper  to  answer  the  question,  What  part  had  Illinois  troops 
in  this  glory  ?  In  giving  in  part  the  answer,  there  is  no  disposition 
to  undervalue  the  heroic  achievements  of  the  men  of  sister  States. 
but  simply  to  speak  of  Illinois  troops  from  the  specific  character  of 
this  work. 

The  First  Brigade  of  the  First  Division  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  W.  II.  L.  Wallace,  a  gentleman,  a  brave  soldier,  a  noble 
leader.  It  was  composed  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ransom's  (the 
llth),  Col.  Marsh's  (the  20th),  Col.  Jno.  E.  Smith's  (the  45th),  CoL 
Haynie's  (the  48th),  and  CoL  Dickey's  (the  4th  Cavalry)  regiments 
with  Captain  Taylor's  and  McAllister's  batteries.  Col.  Haynie's 
was  detached  with  the  17th  and  49th,  3d  Brigade,  on  the  13th,  to 
make  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  middle  redoubt.  Colonel  Haynie,  as 
senior,  leading.  They  inarched  straight  at  their  works,  delivering  their 
fire  as  coolly  as  on  parade  ground.  Headley,  who  criticises  the  order, 
says :  "  They  mounted  with  the  coolness  of  veterans  the  steep 
hight  on  which  the  redoubt  stood.  The  enemy,  screened  behind  their 
embankments,  poured  in  a  terrible  fire  of  musketry,  still  the  brave 
Illinoisans  steadily  advanced.  But  at  this  critical  juncture  it  was 
found  that  the  line  was  not  long  enough  to  envelop  the  works,  and 
the  45th  was  ordered  to  their  support,  While  these  movements 
were  carried  out,  the  enemy  threw  forward  strong  reinforcements  of 
men  and  field  artillery,  which  swept  the  advancing  line  with  murder* 


HARD  FIGHTING.  207 

ous  effect.  But  onward  pressed  those  undaunted  regiments,  leav 
ing  their  dead  and  wounded  strewing  the  slope,  till  they  came  to  the 
foot  of  the  works  where  a  fringe  of  long  poles  and  brushwood  pre 
sented  a  tangled  wall  of  jagged  points,  through  which  no  troops 
under  heaven  could  force  their  way  in  such  fire.  Braver  officers 
never  led  men  to  death,  but  they  found  they  had  been  sent  to  ac 
complish  an  impossible  task  and  gave  the  reluctant  order  to  fall 
back.  Col.  Morrison  commanding  the  49th  was  wounded,  and  many 
brave  officers  fell  in  this  attempt,  which  is  certainly  open  to  criti 
cism."  Again  and  again  was  this  brigade,  in  whole  or  in  part  in 
the  deadly  fray,  and  nobly  was  upborne  the  dignity  and  glory  of 
the  State,  It  reported  a  loss  of  123  killed,  461  wounded  and  103 
missing. 

The  first  brigade,  1st  division,  was  commanded  by  Col.  Richard 
J.  Oglesby,  and  included  the  8th  111.,  Lieutenant- Colonel  Rhoades; 
the  18th,  Col.  Lawler,  the  29th,  Col.  Reardon;  30th,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Dennis ;  31st,  Col,  John  A.  Logan  with  Swartz's  and 
Dresser's  batteries,  Stewart's,  Dollins',  O'Harnett's  and  CarmichaePs 
cavalry.  The  49th  was  with  the  third  brigade.  On  Friday  these 
regiments  endured  a  fearful  assault  and  waged  terrific  battle.  The 
45th  and  12th  met  the  plunging  charge  of  not  less  than  three  thou 
sand  men.  After  a  time  they  withdrew,  the  8th  and  9th  coming  to 
their  relief.  The  Louisville  Journal  narrates  this  incident :  "  A 
private  in  the  9th  Illinois  was  shot  in  the  arm.  He  went  back  a 
short  distance  to  the  hospital,  had  the  wound  dressed,  and  returned 
to  his  place.  Soon  a  bullet  struck  his  thigh  and  prostrated  him, 
passing  through  the  fleshy  part.  His  comrades  offered  to  take  him 
to  the  hospital.  'No,'  said  he,  'I  think  I  can  get  along  alone.' 
With  his  musket  for  a  crutch  and  the  air  around  him  filled  with  the 
whistling  of  bullets,  he  hobbled  to  find  the  surgeon.  After  his 
wound  was  dressed,  and  he  received  some  refreshment,  he  said,  CI 
feel  pretty  well.  I  think  I  will  go  and  join  my  comrades  again. 
He  was  soon  actively  engaged  as  a  skirmisher.  As  he  was  stoop 
ing  to  take  aim  a  shot  entered  his  neck,  and  passed  lengthwise 
through  his  body,  while  at  the  same  instant  four  or  five  other  balls 
struck  his  head,  and  he  fell  lifeless.  The  name  of  such  a  hero 
should  have  been  preserved."  Oglesby  led  his  brigade  wherever 


208  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILtllSTOlS. 

there  were  blows  to  be  given  or  perils  to  be  braved.  Says  Mr. 
Stevenson,  author  of  "Indiana's  roll  of  honor,"  "Upon  Oglesby's 
division  of  this  (Me demand's)  division  was  first  hurled  the  rebel 
thunder.  Under  fire  from  several  batteries,  an  immense  mass  of 
infantry  charged  upon  our  lines.  Sudden  as  was  the  attack,  the 
gallant  troops  of  Illinois  Were  ready  to  meet  it.  Into  the  enemy's 
teeth  they  poured  a  steady  and  deadly  fire.  Fresh  masses  of  the 
enemy  advanced,  but  Taylor's  battery,  and  two  of  McAllister's 
guns  met  them  with  a  storm  of  grape  and  shell,  and  the  brigade 
charging,  actually  drove  four  times  their  number  back  to  their  in- 
trenchments.  The  struggle  was  hand  to  hand.  The  bayonets,  the 
bowie  knife,  the  butt-end  of  the  musket  were  freely  used.  McAr- 
thur's  carried  itself  nobly.  In  Col.  Cook's  brigade,  the  7th  and  50th 
participated  in  General  Smith's  division.  Scarcely  a  regiment,  com 
pany  or  battery  from  the  State  failed  to  distinguish  itself,  and  if 
there  was  failure  it  was  from  want  of  opportunity." 

Other  details  will  be  given  in  the  sketches  of  officers  and  regi 
ments,  but  if  Illinois'  troops  had  only  participated  in  the  single 
battle  of  Donelson  only,  the  record  of  the  State  had  been  made  for^ 
ever  glorious. 

The  tides  of  war  were  drifting  towards  "Pittsburg  Landing," 
where  the  humble  church  edifice  bearing  the  name  of  Shiloh,  the 
Peacemaker,  which  was  to  give  name  to  one  of  the  most  sanguinary 
battles.  Converging  toward  that  spot  were  some  of  the  troops  of  this 
State,  coming  via  Munfordsville,  Mill  Spring  and  Nashville,  directly 
through  Kentucky.  The  insolent  reply  of  Governor  McGoffin  to 
the  call  upon  Kentucky  for  its  contingent  has  been  given,  and  it 
must  be  conceded  that  he  did  What  he  could  to  throw  that  State  into 
the  hands  of  the  Southern  conspirators.  Fortunately  he  was  not  as 
courageous  as  he  was  disloyal.  His  audacity  would  not  serve  as 
executor  of  his  wishes.  Some  leading  men  of  the  State  urged  that 
neutrality  was  its  safest,  its  only  policy.  The  keen  eyes  of  Holt,  and 
Rosseau,  and  Breckinridge— not  the  foresworn  traitor  who  had  sunk 
from  the  dignified  station  of  Vice-President  and  Senator  in  Con 
gress,  to  that  of  a  traitorous  marplot,  but  the  noble  old  Doctor  in 
Divinity  who  subsequently  said  in  Baltimore  that  the  nation  must  be 
cemented  by  the  blood  of  traitors— saw  differently ;  saw  that  net!/ 


ATTEMPT    ON   LOUISVILLE.  209 

trality  was  secession,  and  urged  a  vigorous  policy  ;  urged  that  troops 
be  raised ;  that  Kentucky  should  be  treated  as   an  imperiled   State 
in  the  Union.     The  Legislature  broke  ground  with  the    Governor ; 
passed  loyal  resolves  over  his  veto,  and  called  General  Robt.  Ander 
son,  of  Fort  Sumter  fame,  to  lead  its  men,  he  having  been  assigned  to 
duty  in  that  district.     Colonel  T.  L.  Orittenden,  son  of  the   vener 
able  Senator,  was  placed  in  command  of  the   State  Guard.     Sep 
tember    17,    1861,    Buckner  seized   the   upward   bound   passenger 
train,  on  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad,  embarked  his  troops, 
cut  the  telegraph  wires,  and  started  for  the  occupation  of  Louisville. 
Everything  moved  favorably  for  him  until  he  neared  Elizabethtown, 
when  the  train  was  thrown  from  the  track  by  the  displacement  of  a 
rail.     Some  noble  Union  man,  hearing  of  Buckner's  design,   had 
sought  to  thwart  his  purpose  and  admirably  succeeded.     This  disas 
ter  was  fatal  to  the  expedition.     Night  came  on  before  the  train  was 
again  ready  for  motion,  and  then  Buckner's  heart  failed  him.     He 
was  fearful  his  coming  was  known,  and  that  inhospitable  prepa- 
tions  were  made  to  welcome  him.     Meantime  Louisville  was  resting 
in  terrible  security,  utterly  ignorant  of  the  fate  which  threatened  and 
so  nearly  overwhelmed  it.     As  the  time  drew  near  for  the  arrival  of 
the  Nashville  passenger  train,  the  citizens  as  usual  gathered  at  the 
depot.     The  train  failed  to  appear.         *         *         *        An  attempt 
to  ascertain  its  whereabouts  by  telegraph,  disclosed  the   fact  that 
the  wires  were  cut.     Suspicion  of  danger  was  at  once  aroused,  and 
rumors  of  invasion,   devastation  and  ruin,  circulated  like  wild-fire 
through  the   city.     The  most  intense  excitement  prevailed  every 
where.     Union  citizens,  fearful  of  rebel  vengeance,  crossed  the  Ohio 
River  into  Indiana,  or  prepared  to  do  so,   at  the  first  intimation  of 
actual   danger.*     When  this  was  known,  Kentucky  awoke  to  the 
fact  that  war  was  upon  it,  and  not  to  be  diverted  by  the  missives 
and  jeremiads  of  the  oily  Beriah  McGoffin. 

Rosseau  moved  with  a  portion  of  troops  toward  the  seat  of  dan 
ger  and  occupied  Muldraugh's  Hill.  Troops  from  Ohio,  Indiana 
and  Illinois  were  freely  offered.  Dr.  Breckinridge  declares  that  the 
coming  forward  of  the  regiments  from  those  States  saved  Kentucky. 
Buckner,  John  C.  Breckinridge,  W.  B.  Preston  and  other  promi4- 

*Dodge's  Old  Second  Division. 
14 


210  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

nent  secessionists  went  South.  John  Morgan  left  Lexington  at  the 
head  of  a  company  of  mounted  men.  General  W.  T.  Sherman  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  Federal  forces  on  the  line  of  the  L.  &  N. 
R.  R.  General  G.  H.  Thomas  was  in  command  at  Camp  Dick 
Robinson  in  the  central  part  of  the  State.  The  counsel  of  Fremont 
had  been  neglected  and  the  rebels  had  seized  Bowling  Green  and 
were  making  of  it  a  'Sebastopol.  General  Zollicoffer  was  before 
Thomas  with  a  large  force.  Humphrey  Marshall  the  oleaginous 
Falstaff  of  the  Confederacy  was  at  Big  Sandy,  and  the  Confederacy 
was  moving  vigorously  to  secure  the  State. 

Physically  worn  out,  General  Anderson  proved  unfit  for  his  posi 
tion,  and  was  succeeded  by  General  W.  T.  Sherman.  This  officer 
said  200,000  men  were  needed  to  save  the  State  and  drive  back  the 
Southern  armies,  and  was  laughed  at  as  "  crazy  Sherman,"  and  yet 
his  antics  were  to  give  the  country  Atlanta  and  Savannah !  Had  he 
been  heeded,  all  those  border  hordes  could  have  been  crushed,  and 
the  armies  of  Johnson,  Beauregard,  Polk,  and  so  on  through  the 
•catalogue,  could  have  been  destroyed.  But  it  was  still  the  days  of 
dress  parade  on  the  Potomac. 

Meanwhile,  a  convention,  claiming  to  be  the  sovereignty  of  Ken 
tucky,  met  at  Russelville,  in  November,  voted  a  secession  ordinance, 
elected  a  Governor  and  ten  Councilmen — evidently  imagining  them 
selves  on  the  Adriatic — gave  them,  with  the  Governor,  power  to 
make  laws,  ordain  treaties,  enter  into  State  compacts,  and  to  appoint 
State  officers,  and  consummated  the  farce  by  choosing  Senators  and 
Representatives  to  the  Confederate  Congress,  who  were,  of  course, 
permitted  to  hold  seats,  and  who  gravely  mouthed  platitudes  about 
their  constituents  !  Their  Governor,  G.  M.  Johnson,  was  solemnly 
inaugurated;  on  the  llth  of  December  the  rebel  Congress  formally 
received  the  State  into  the  Confederacy  ! 

It  is  difficult  to  read  those  proceedings,  so  clearly  lawless,  so 
transparently  devoid  of  even  revolutionary  authority,  without  the 
sense  of  the  ludicrous,  but  at  the  time,  they  made  much  trouble. 
Two  governments,  two  codes  of  laws,  two  conflicting  authorities — 
obedience  to  either  being  punishable  as  treason  by  the  other!  The 
early  neutrality  was  supreme  folly,  and  its  consequences  were  upon  the 
•  State,  which  was  as  "a  strong  ass  crouching  between  two  burdens." 


ZOLLICOFFER   BEATEN.  211 

November  15th,  General  Don  Carlos  Buell  arrived  at  Louisville 
and  took  command  of  the  new  Department  of  the  Ohio,  embracing 
the  States  of  Ohio,  Michigan,  Indiana,  Tennessee,  and  that  part  of 
Kentucky  east  of  the  Cumberland  River.  He  was  to  oppose  a  pow 
erful  foe  from  Cumberland  Gap  to  Nashville. 

In  the  2d  Division  of  his  army,  commanded  by  Brig.- Gen.  A. 
McCook,  and  in  the  5th  Brigade,  was  the  34th  Illinois,  commanded 
by  Col.  E.  N.  Kirk,  and  in  the  3d  Division,  commanded  by  General 
O.  M.  Mitchell,  was  Turchin's  19th  Zouaves,  and  Mahalotzy's  24th, 
the  gallant  Hecker  Regiment.  The  first  named,  marched  in  De 
cember,  toward  Munfordsville,  on  the  north  bank  of  Green  River. 
The  railroad  bridge  had  been  destroyed,  but  Willieh's  artisans  pro 
vided  one  which  answered  all  purposes.  On  the  17th  was  fought 
the  battle  of  Rowlett's  Station  (or  Munfordsville),  the  rebel  force 
commanded  by  Gen.  Hindman  and  numbering  about  2,000,  with  Col. 
Terry's  Texan  Rangers  (cavalry),  Phifer's  cavalry,  and  four  pieces 
of  artillery.  Col.  Willich's  Indiana  regiment,  the  32d,  fought  for, 
and  retained,  possession  of  the  field.  January  19th,  General  Thomas 
engaged  and  defeated  the  enemy  under  the  rebel  Crittenden  and 
Zollicoffer,  capturing  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery,  with  large  quantities 
of  war  materiel.  This  victory  turned  the  right  of  the  rebel  offen 
sive  line.  Humphrey  Marshall  was  beaten  at  Prestonburg  by  Gar- 
field  and  sent  flying  to  Abingdon,  Va. 

And  now  came  intelligence  of  the  success  of  Grant  and  Foote 
at  Henry,  and  movements  on  Bowling  Green  and  Nashville  began. 
General  Mitchell  was  ordered  to  move  from  Munfordsville  on  to 
Bowling  Green,  and  did  so  on  the  13th  of  Feb.,  1862,  with  Turchin's 
brigade,  consisting  of  the  37th  Indiana,  18th  Ohio,  19th  and  24th 
Illinois,  Loomis',  Edgerton's,  and  Simonson's  batteries  and  three 
companies  of  Kennett's  cavalry  in  advance.  The  march  of  forty 
miles  was  made  in  twenty-eight  hours,  over  a  frozen,  rocky  road, 
obstructed  by  felled  trees.  Reaching  the  Barren  River  the  advance 
marched  rapidly  to  a  ferry  on  which  about  fifty  infantry  could  be 
crossed  at  once,  and  in  silence  and  secrecy,  were  "  set  over."  A 
writer  in  the  Providence  Journal  says :  "  The  repairs  of  an  old 
wherry  were  completed  and  we  crossed  the  river,  protected  by 
artillery.  The  Nineteenth  and  Twenty-fourth,  Hecker's  Illinois,* 


212  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

crossed  first.  We  pushed  on  slowly  to  within  a  mile  or  two  of  the 
town,  where  we  halted,  waiting  for  the  rest.  But  the  boys,  getting 
almost  frozen,  declared  they  would  rather  be  shot  than  frozen,  and 
we  then  pushed  on,  seeing  no  enemy,  but  rather  fearing  a  ruse,  and 
that  they  would  return  upon  us  in  large  force.  But  no  enemy  ap 
peared  and  we  were  soon  surrounding  the  fires,  some  of  which  had 
been  burning  for  several  days."  General  Buell,  in  General  Orders, 
thanked  Mitchell's  Division  for  its  gallantry  and  celerity. 

It  has  been  stated  that  Grant  and  Foote  desired  to  move  upon 
Nashville  from  Fort  Donelson,  but  Gen.  Halleck  declined  consent. 
That  officer  doubtless  had  his  reasons,  but  they  have  not  been  di 
vulged.  The  delay  lost  some  millions  of  property  in  destroyed 
stores,  and  kept  open  a  door  for  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  from 
Bowling  Green. 

General  Mitchell  conveyed  his  division  as  promptly  as  possible, 
and  with  the  blue  flag  of  the  19th  Illinois  in  advance,  took  posses 
sion  of  Edgefield,  opposite  Nashville,  which  was  formally  surren 
dered  the  next  day. 

As  an  episode  in  the  monotony  of  reading,  the  account  below, 
written  by  a  rebel,  will  serve  a  good  purpose.  There  is  in  it  a  good- 
natured  confession,  and  sad  drollery: 

"  The  fight  at  Fort  Donelson,  on  the  13th,  14th  and  loth  of  February,  was  of  in 
tense  concern  to  us,  and  each  day's  work  down  there  wound  up  with  the  statement 
that  the  fight  would  be  renewed  to-morrow.  The  fears  that  the  fall  of  Fort  Henry 
were  calculated  to  inspire,  had  been  wel!-nigh  dispelled  by  the  way  Fort  Donelson 
was  holding  out.  It  was  better  located,  and  stronger  in  men  and  guns.  Pillow, 
Floyd  and  Buckner  were  there.  Pillow  had  said,  'Let  corne  what  might,  he  never 
would  surrender  the  place,'  and  Nashville  felt  that  we  could  not  afford  to  lose  that 
battle.  Saturday's  work  was  glorious.  Our  citizens  shouted  over  it.  Many  were 
saying:  'I  never  liked  Pillow,  but  forgive  him  now — he  is  the  man  for  the  occasion.' 
A  sober,  modest  citizen,  an  old  line  Whig  and  Ex-Governor,  was  heard  to  say,  Sat 
urday  afternoon,  on  being  asked  how  the  fight  went  on  :  '  First-rate ;  Pillow  is  giv 
ing  them ,  and  rubbing  it  in.' 

"  The  dispatches  closed  on  Saturday  as  they  had  for  three  successive  days  be 
fore — 'The  enemy  are  expecting  large  reinforcements,'  but  we  slept  soundly,  and 
expected  to  have  great  news  on  the  morrow.  About  9  o'clock  Sunday  morning  I 
rode  out  into  the  country  seven  or  eight  miles,  and  leaving  the  turnpike,  dined  with 
a  friend  in  one  of  the  quiet  and  luxurious  farmer-homes  of  Middle  Tennessee.  Ee- 
turning  leisurely,  I  struck  the  pike  about  4  p.  M.,  and  as  everybody  I  had  met  in  the 


A  REBEL'S  STOEY.  213 

morning  had  asked  me  the  latest  news  from  the  city,  I  asked  the  first  man  I  met, 
'  Any  news  ?' — prepared  to  hear  only  of  victory. 

"  '  News  t     What's  the  last  you've  heard  ?' 

"  'Last  night's  dispatches.' 

"  '  None  since  ?  The  latest  out,  and  plenty  of  it.  Fort  Donelson  has  fallen,  and 
Nashville  is  surrendered !  They  say  the  white  flag  is  waving  now  on  the  capitol, 
and  the  gunboats  Will  be  up  before  sundown.' 

"I  thought  he  was  hoaxing  me,  but  quickened  my  pace.  The  next  morning  con 
firmed  it  all  and  more.  I  saw  there  was  literally  a  cloud  of  witnesses  pouring  along 
the  turnpike  leading  to  Franklin.  Convalescent  soldiers,  quitting  the  hospitals, 
were  waddling  along  with  their  scanty  baggage.  Travelers  in  groups  and  squads 
had  left  the  hotel-s,  carrying  carpet-bags  and  satchels,  and  saddle-bags  in  hand.  The 
family  of  the  owner  of  the  omnibus  line  were  rolling  out  in  those  vehicles.  Double 
and  one-horse  carriages  were  full  of  living  freight.  On  reaching  the  toll-gate,  on 
the  top  of  the  hill  overlooking  Nashville,  I  strained  my  eyes  to  see  the  white  flag 
on  the  capitol.  The  tall  flag-staff  was  naked.  There  was  no  flag  of  any  sort  on  it. 

"  Passing  down  Broad-street  by  the  Nashville  and  Decatur  road,  the  first  man  I 
saw  was  Gov.  Harris,  about  to  leave  on  a  special  train,  with  the  Legislature  and  ar 
chives  of  the  State.  The  town  was  in  commotion.  Over  the  wire  bridge  that  spans 
the  Cumberland,  Gen.  Johnston's  army  were  passing,  taking  the  direction  of  the 
Murfreesboro  turnpike.  The  train  of  wagons  and  soldiers  reached  out  of  sight,  and 
did  not  get  over  that  night.  The  sight  of  a  withdrawing  or  retreating  army  is  very 
disheartening. 

"  My  residence  is  in  Edgefield,  a  little  village  separated  from  Nashville  by  the 
Cumberland  River.  For  several  days  Gen.  Johnston's  headquarters  had  been  estab 
lished  on  that  side  of  the  river,  and  near  me.  The  lady  with  whom  he  and  his  staff 
took  their  meals  is  my  neighbor  and  friend,  and  tells  me  that  the  General  opened 
the  news  to  her  at  table,  in  these  words : 

'  "Madam,  I  take  you  to  be  a  person  of  firmness,  and  trust  your  neighbors  are. 
Don't  be  alarmed.  Last  night,  my  last  .dispatch,  up  to  12  o'clock,  was  favorable,  and 
I  lay  down  expecting  a  great  victory  to-day  ;  but  this  morning,  at  4  o'clock,  I  was 
waked  by  a  courier,  with  the  news  that  our  forces  at  Fort  Donelson  were  surrounded 
and  must  surrender.  They. are  not  made  of  steel.  Our  soldiers  have  fought  as 
bravely  as  ever  soldiers  did ;  but  they  cannot  hold  out  day  after  day,  against  fresh 
forces  and  such  odds.  I  cannot  make  men.  Stay  at  home.  Tell  all  your  friends 
for  me  to  stay  at  home.  I  cannot  make  a  fight  before  Nashville,  and,  for  the  good 
of  the  city,  shall  retire.  I  know  Gen.  Buell  well.  He  is  a  gentleman,  and  will  not 
suffer  any  violence  to  peaceable  citizens,  or  disturb  private  property.' 

"  It  might  have  been  well  if  the  General  had  issued  a  proclamation.  He  and  staff 
crossed  the  bridge  that  night  at  11  o'clock.  Gen.  Breckinridge  followed,  and  your 
correspondent  followe'd  soon  after. 

"The  question  has  often  been  asked:  'Why  didn't  the  people  of  Nashville  make 
a  stand  ?  What !  give  up  their  city  without  striking  a  blow  ?' 


214  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

"The  people  were  astonished  and  indignant  at  the  way  they  were  handed  over  t& 
the  enemy's  mercy  and  occupation.  But  what  could  they  do  ?  When  generals,  and 
armed  and  drilled  soldiers  give  up  and  retire,  what  can  unarmed  and  undisciplined 
citizens  do  before  a  foe  advancing  by  land  and  water  ? 

"  '  Throw  brickbats  at  them,'  said  one.  Indeed  !  that  would  be  well  enough,  if 
the  enemy  would  deal  in  the  same  missiles. 

"The  bones  of  Gen.  Jackson,  the  defender  of  New  Orleans,  must  have  turned  in 
his  grave  at  the  Hermitage,  a  few  miles  away,  at  such  a  surrender. 

"A few  months  before,  on  urgent  call,  every  man  who  had  a  rifle  or  double-barrel 
gun,  had  brought  it  forward  and  given  it  up  for  army  service.  Not  fifty  serviceable 
guns  could  our  citizens  have  mustered.  No,  not  even  pikes,  though  they  had  just 
enrolled  themselves  and  resolved  to  have  them  made,  and  if  Gen.  Johnston  made  a 
siand  before  the  city,  they  were  resolved  to  stand  with  him.  Such  of  them  as  weie 
not  willing  to  be  surrendered  to  the  uncovenanted  mercies  of  Lincolndom,  with  the 
prospect  of  having  the  oath  tendered  them  or  the  bastile,  followed  the  retiring 
army. 

"After  taking  my  family  as  far  as  Decatur,  I  returned  to  Nashville  on  Wednesday. 
The  stores  were  closed  and  bolted;  the  streets  deserted,  save  by  a  guard  here  and 
there,  and  a  press-gang  taking  up  every  man  they  could  find,  and  sending  him  to 
load  government  pork  into  barges,  upon  which  it  was  being  taken  up  the  river,  and 
put  out  of  the  enemy's  way.  Had  a  stand  been  made  before  the  city,  or  even  a  feint 
of  a  stand,  no  doubt  all  the  government  stores  could  have  been  removed  safely.  As 
it  is,  vast  amounts  have  been  thrown  away,  wasted,  given  out,  both  from  the  quar 
termaster's  and  commissary's  departments.  At  one  time  the  doors  were  thrown  open 
to  whomsoever  would,  under  the  impression  that  they  had  better  let  the  poor  have 
these  provisions  than  the  enemy,  who  was  expected  instantly.  A  friend  said  lie  saw 
quantities  of  meat  lying  on  the  roadside,  where  persons,  having  overloaded  their 
carts,  had  thrown  it  out.  Barrels  of  flour,  sacks  of  coffee,  tierces  of  lard  and  meat,, 
•were  rolled  into  private  houses  and  back  yards,  with  hundreds  of  boxes  of  candles, 
bolts  of  cloth,  etc.  Afterwards  this  order  was  countermanded,  as  the  enemy  was 
not  exactly  at  the  door,  and  a  guard  placed  over  the  stores,  and  an  effort  made  to  get 
them  off  by  railroad  and  boat.  Private  carriages,  hacks  and  carts,  were  stopped  in 
the  street  and  pressed  into  service,  and  some  of  my  friends  had  to  get  their  baggage 
to  the  station  in  wheel-barrows.  Advantage  was  taken  of  the  confusion  and  dismay 
of  the  hour  for  private  injustice  and  irresponsible  oppression.  The  selfishness  de 
veloped  in  such  a  crisis  is  humiliating.  *  * 

"  The  opinion  prevails  there  that  Nashville  will  be  burnt,  first  or  last — if  not 
when  we  leave  it,  then  when  we  drive  the  enemy  out  o?  it.  For  Tenncsseeans  arc 
resolved  that  the  enemy  shall  not  rest  on  their  soil.  Gen.  Floyd  and  staff  left 
Thursday  morning,  and  it  was  understood  that  Capt.  John  H.  Morgan,  with  his  com 
pany,  would  retire  slowly,  as  the  enemy  in  force  entered.  The  Louisiana  cavalry, 
Col.  Scott,  were  near  Franklin,  on  their  way  to  the  vicinity  of  Nashville,  where 
they  will  act  as  scouts  and  hold  the  enemy  closely  in  bounds. 


WHAT   REBELS  WILL   DO.  215 

"As  far  out  as  Brentwood,  Franklin  and  Columbia,  some  people  are  leaving  their 
homes  and  sending  off  their  slaves.  Others,  deeply  committed  Southerners,  stand 
and  risk  the  consequences.  They  look  for  inconveniences  and, heavy  losses,  staying 
or  going. 

"  In  reply  to  the  question  often  asked,  whether  any  Union  element  has  been  de 
veloped  by  these  events :  There  was  always  some  of  this  element  in  Nashville,  but 
in  very  inconsiderable  proportion  to  the  population.  Let  Unionists  show  their 
hands  and  heads  now  ;  it  is  hoped  they  will.  We  have  friends  enough  left  to  watch 
them  ;  and  when  the  tide  of  war  rolls  back,  the  country  will  finally  be  purged  of 
them,  for  they  will  have  to  leave  with  the  Lincoln  army. 

"  The  great  mass  of  Tennesseeans,  especially  Middle  and  West,  are  sound  to  the 
core,  and  thoroughly  aroused  for  the  first  time.  They  chafe  under  the  humiliation 
and  disgrace  of  the  surrender  of  their  capital.  Those  that  can  will  move  their 
families  out  of  the  reach  of  immediate  harm,  and  return  to  face  the  foe  on  a  hundred 
fields.  The  great  battles  of  the  war  are  to  be  fought  in  the  West.  This  is  but  the 
beginning.  The  people  realize  now  what  is  at  stake,  and  they  will  measure  out 
wealth  and  blood  without  stint." 

From  Nashville  the  division  of  Mitchell  made  its  way  through 
Tennessee  into  Alabama,  while  Gen.  Buell  was  to  co-operate  with 
Gen.  Grant  in  the  terrible  field  of  Shiloh. 


CHAPTEE    XII. 

COLUMBUS:  ISLAND  No.  10:  PEA  RIDGE. 

FEDERAL  STRATEGY — RESULTS— COLUMBUS — HALLECK'S  DISPATCH — GUNBOATS — "THAT 
FLAG" — REBEL  STRENGTH — GENERAL  POPE — A  CAVALRY  SKIRMISH — CAPTURE  OF 
NEW  MADRID — MORGAN'S  GALLANT  BRIGADE — EVACUATION — POPE'S  DISPATCH — 
"ISLAND  No.  10" — NAVAL  BOMBARDMENT — BUFORD'S  DASH  ON  UNION  CITY — COL. 
ROBERT'S  DARING  EXPLOIT — RUNNING  BATTERIES — THE  SURRENDER — GENERAL  PRE 
SENTMENT — GENERAL  POPE'S  COMMAND — BATTLE  OF  PEA  RIDGE — INCIDENTS — MAJOR- 
GENERAL  CURTIS — BRIGADIER-GENERAL  EUGENE  A.  CARR — GENERAL  JULIUS  WHIKS — 
COLONEL  GREUSEL — COLONEL  POST. 

r  1 1HE  demonstrations  upon  Fort  Henry  and  Fort  Ponelson  were 
JL  really  part  of  the  siege  of  Columbus  and  Island  'No.  10,  the 
rebel  strongholds,  which  were  relied  upon  to  permanently  close  the 
Mississippi  River.  The  Federal  strategy  pierced  the  enemy's  cen 
ter,  isolated  and  turned  his  wings,  by  the  brilliant  movements  on  the 
Tennessee  and  Cumberland.  Bowling  Green  and  Nashville  were 
the  first  fruits,  and  then  Columbus  and  the  Island.  So  much  had 
been  said  and  believed  in  reference  to  the  strength  of  Columbus, 
that  a  long  siege  was  anticipated,  and  therefore  the  country  was  sur 
prised  above  measure  when  it  was  announced  on  the  3d  of  March, 
1862,  that  it  had  fallen  without  a  struggle  ! 

General  Halleck's  dispatch  of  March  4th,  modestly  said  : 

"The  cavalry  from  Paducah  marched  into  Columbus,  yesterday,  at  6  p.  M.,  driv 
ing  before  them  the  >enemy's  rear-guard.  The  flag  of  the  Union  is  flying  ove-r  the 
boasted  Gibraltar  of  the  "West.  Finding  himself  completely  turned  on  both  sides 
of  the  Mississippi,  the  enemy  was  obliged  to  evacuate  or  surrender.  Large  quan 
tities  of  artillery  and  stores  were  captured." 

The  naval  force  under  Admiral  Foote  consisted  of  six  gunboats 
and  four  mortar-boats.  There  were  four  transports  conveying  Col. 
Buford's  27th  111.,  a  battalion  of  the  54th  and  74th  Ohio  and  55th 


COLUMBUS.  217 

111.,  six  companies,  of  the  55th,  commanded  by  Major  Sanger,  form 
ing  a  brigade  under  Brigader-General  Sherman.  The  expedition 
moved  cautiously  to  Lucas  Bend  from  which  the  bluffs  of  Columbus 
were  visible  in  the  morning  light.  The  fleet  was  made  ready  for 
action,  and  then  doubts  arose  if  there  was  anything  to  attack.  An 
examination  showed  the  batteries  in  position,  but  where  was  the 
foe  ?  On  the  right-hand  side  of  the  river  a  man  was  seen  in  a  corn 
field,  retreating.  A  boat  was  sent  to  him,  and  he  gave  the  informa 
tion  that  Columbus  was  deserted  by  the  rebels,  who  had  carried 
with  them  arms  and  ammunition  as  far  as  possible,  and  had  burnt 
most  of  the  town.  A  flag  was  seen  which  puzzled  the  officers  of 
the  expedition,  for  it  wore  too  many  stripes  for  Secessia,  and  yet  had 
not  the  appearance  of  the  national  bunting^  On  landing  a  party 
the  facts  were  ascertained.  On  the  previous  afternoon  a  detach 
ment  of  the  2d  Illinois'  Cavalry,  numbering  about  600  men,  under 
charge  of  Lieutenant- Colonel  Hogg,  had  arrived  from  Paducah  and 
taken  possession.  The  strange  flag  was  one  improvised  from  pieces 
of  calico. 

General  Polk  had  with  him  not  less  than  20,000  men,  and  they 
were  within  fortifications  of  great  strength,  but  he  deemed  it  neces 
sary  to  give  up  their  stronghold  and  retire  without  a  blow.  A  sin 
gular  evil-fortune  has  attended  every  effort  of  the  rebels  to  hold 
posts  on  the  Mississippi  from  Paducah  to  New  Orleans.  Among  the 
relics  was  Pillow's  great  chain,  costing  forty  thousand  dollars,  de 
signed  to  obstruct  the  river  against  Yankee  gunboats.  One  end  was 
anchored  in  the  bluff,  and  the  other  stretching  across  the  river,  but 
alas !  it  was  destined  to  serve  no  better  purpose  than  the  famous 
ditch  excavated  aforetime,  within  the  breast-work  by  order  of  the 
venerable  warrior-sage  !  The  chain  was  broken ! 

General  Pope,  with  a  formidable  land  force  was  operating  against 
the  enemy.  On  the  28th  of  February  he  moved  toward  New 
Madrid,  encamping  the  first  night,  twelve  miles  from  Commerce. 
The  second  day  there  was  a  cavalry  skirmish  near  Sykestown,  the 
Union  force  being  under  Captain  Webster,  7th  111.,  resulting  in  the 
capture  of  three  small  rifled  cannon  and  four  rebel  prisoners.  Ap 
proaching  New  Madrid  the  command  was  formed  in  line  of  battle 
including  the  7th  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  26th  Infantry.  The  rebel 


218  PATRIOTISM  OF    ILLINOIS. 

gunboats  from  Columbus  were  before  the  town,  and  threw  shot  and 
shell  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Union  forces  though  with  trilling  effect, 
and  in  the  afternoon  General  Pope  g.ive  the  order  to  fall  back.  lie 
sent  a  request  to  Cairo  for  four  siege  guns,  twenty-four-pounders, 
and  placed  General  Plummer,  llth  Mo.,  with  a  battery,  three  regi 
ments  of  infantry  and  three  companies  of  cavalry  at  Mount  Pleasant, 
twelve  miles  below,  thus  blockading  the  river  and  cutting  off  sup 
plies  and  reinforcements.  The  enemy  brought  reinforcements  from 
Island  No.  10  until  he  had  concentrated  some  nine  thousand  in 
fantry,  besides  artillery,  and  nine  gunboats  under  Commodore 
Hollins.  The  rebel  land  forces  were  under  Generals  McCown, 
Stewart  and  Gantt.  On  the  12th  the  seige  guns  arrived  from 
Cairo,  at  sunset,  and,  that  night  were  placed  in  a  battery  within 
eight  hundred  yards  of  the  rebel  main  works,  so  as  to  command  it 
and  the  river  above  it,  and  within  thirty-six  hours  from  their  re 
ception  at  Cairo,  they  were  thundering  against  the  defences  of 
McCown. 

General  Pope  says  in  his  official  report : 

"One  brigade,  consisting  of  the  10th  and  16th  Illinois,  under  Colonel  Morgan  of 
the  10th,  was  detailed  to  cover  the  construction  of  the  battery,  and  to  work  iu  the 
trenches.  They  were  supported  by  Stanley's  division,  consisting  of  the  27th,  39th, 
43d  and  63d  Ohio.  Capt.  Mower  of  the  1st  U.  S.  Infantry,  with  companies  A  and 
H  of  his  regiment,  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  siege  guns. 

"  The  enemy's  pickets  and  grand  guards  were  driven  in  by  Col.  Morgan  from  the 
ground  selected  for  the  battery,  without  firing  a  shot,  although  the  enemy  fired 
several  volleys  of  musketry.  The  work  was  prosecuted  in  silence,  and  with  the 
utmost  rapidity  until  at  3  o'clock,  A.  M.,  two  small  redoubts,  connected  by  a  curtain 
and  mounting  the  four  heavy  guns  which  had  been  sent  me,  were  completed,  to 
gether  with  rifle-pits  in  front  and  on  the  flanks,  for  two  regiments  of  infantry.  Our 
batteries  opened  as  soon  as  the  day  dawned  and  were  replied  to  in  front  and  on  the 
flanks  by  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  heavy  artillery  on  land  and  water." 

Through  the  day  the  furious  cannonading  continued.  General 
Paine,  supported  by  General  Palmer's  division,  was  ordered  to  make 
a  demonstration  against  the  rebel  entrenchments  on  the  left  of  our 
forces,  and  did  so,  driving  the  pickets,  his  skirmishers  forcing  their 
way  close  to  the  main  ditch. 

That  night,  in  a  blinding  thunder-storm,  the  rebel  forces  evacuated 
in  haste,  "  leaving  their  dead  unburied,  their  suppers  untouched, 


ISLAXD   NO.    10.  219 

standing  on  the  tables,  candles  burning  in  the  tents,  and  every  other 
evidence  of  a  disgraceful  panic." — [Pope's  report.]  Thirty-three 
pioces  of  artillery,  with  magazines  of  fixed  ammunition,  several 
thousand  stand  of  small  arms,  hundreds  of  boxes  of  cartridges, 
tents  for  an  army  of  ten  thousand  men,  with  horses,  mules,  &c., 
were  captured.  The  fall  of  New  Madrid  would  "  compel  the  evacu 
ation  of  Island  No.  10,  as  it  could  neither  be  reinforced  nor  supplied 
from  below."  General  Pope  made  the  following  official  notice : 

"The  10th  and  16th  Illinois,  commanded  respectively  by  Colonels  Morgan  and 
J.  R.  Smith,  were  detailed  as  guards  to  the  proposed  trenches  and  to  aid  in  con 
structing  them.  They  marched  from  camp  at  sunset  on  the  12th  inst.,  and  drove  in 
the  pickets  and  grand  guards  of  the  enemy  as  they  were  ordered,  at  shouldered 
arms,  without  returning  a  shot ;  covered  the  front  of  the  intrenching  parties,  and 
occupied  the  trenches  and  rifle  pits  during  the  whole  day  and  night  of  the  13th, 
under  furious  and  incessant  cannonading  from  sixty  pieces  of  heavy  artillery.  At 
the  earnest  request  of  their  Colonels  their  regimental  flags  were  kept  flying  over 
our  trenches,  though  they  offered  a  conspicuous  mark  to  the  enemy.  The  coolness, 
courage  and  cheerfulness  of  these  troops,  exposed  for  two  nights  and  a  day  to  the  furious 
fire  of  the  enemy  at  short  range,  aivl  to  the  severe  storm  which  raged  during  (he  whole 
night  of  the  thirteenth  are  beyond  all  praise,  and  delighted  and  astonished  every  officer 
who  witnessed  it." 

Here,  as  well  as  elsewhere,  wherever  brought  into  conflict,  the 
gallant  soldiers  of  Illinois  met  danger  without  flinching,  and  main 
tained  the  honor  of  the  country  and  the  flag. 

"Island  No.  10"  next  engrossed  public  attention.  It  is  situated 
in  the  corner  of  the  bend  of  the  Mississippi  River,  which  touches 
the  border  of  Tennessee,  and  is  above  though  southwest  of  New 
Madrid;  it  is  240  miles  from  St.  Louis,  and  950  from  New  Or 
leans.  By  the  river,  it  is  forty -five  miles  south  of  Columbus  and 
about  twenty-six  from  Hickman.  The  fortifications  consisted 
of  eleven  earthworks,  with  seventy  heavy  cannon,  varying  from 
thirty-two  to  hundred  pounders.  The  operations  of  General  Pope 
were  part  of  the  campaign  against  this  formidable  Island,  consid 
ered  by  the  Confederate  officers  as  of  the  highest  importance 
to  the  new  line  of  defence  held  by  them,  for  on  the  ability  to  hold 
it  depended  the  safety  of  Memphis  and  the  entire  lower  Mississippi. 
The  left  of  this  line  rested  on  the  Mississippi,  the  center  between 
Jackson,  Tenn.,  and  Corinth,  Miss.,  and  the  right  between  Florence 
and  Decatur. 


220  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

On  the  15th  of  March,  Admiral  Foote,  with  several  gunboats  and 
part  of  the  mortar  fleet  left  Hickman  for  the  island,  and  on  the  next 
day  the  bombardment  began.  On  the  18th  General  Pope's  batteries 
at  New  Madrid  were  attacked  by  the  rebel  gunboats,  but  repulsed 
them.  In  order  to  completely  isolate  the  island  and  cut  off  retreat 
it  was  necessary  to  throw  a  portion  of  Pope's  army  across  the  Mis 
sissippi  River  to  the  Tennessee  shore.  At  the  suggestion  of  Gen. 
Schuyler  Hamilton,  a  channel  was  made  by  Col.  Bissel's  engineer 
regiment,  twelve  miles  in  length,  and  six  of  them  through  heavy 
timber  requiring  to  be  cut  off  four  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
water.  The  labor  expended  upon  this  work  was  immense  and  while 
it  was  progressing  the  bombardment  continued. 

During  the  siege  Col.  Buford,  of  the  27th,  and  Col.  Roberts,  of 
the  42d  Illinois,  performed  two  of  those  daring  acts  which  make  up 
the  romance  of  war.  On  the  morning  of  March  31st,  Col.  Buford 
taking  his  own  regiment,  the  42d  Illinois,  and  400  hardy  Scandina 
vians  of  the  15th  Wisconsin,  Col.  Heg,  with  two  companies  2d  111. 
cavalry  and  a  battery,  proceeded  toward  Union  City  by  forced 
marches  and  surprised  a  large  body  of  rebels,  cavalry  and  infantry, 
under  Clay  King,  a  notorious  desperado.  The  Union  forces  entered 
the  town  at  full  speed  and  the  astonished  rebels,  panic-stricken,  fled 
in  all  directions.  About  twenty  were  killed  and  one  hundred  captured, 
with  200  horses  and  a  large  lot  of  army  stores,  500  stand  of  arms, 
several  officers'  swords  and  flags,  and  all  without  the  loss  of  one 
Union  soldier. 

Scarcely  returned,  Col.  Roberts  was  bent  on  another  dash.  Col. 
Buford  was  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance,  and  he  selected  his 
Union  City  associate  for  the  work.  On  the  night  of  April  1st,  Col. 
Roberts,  with  forty  picked  men  of  his  own  regiment,  took  boat  from 
the  gunboat  Benton,  and  with  muffled  oars,  made  for  the  island  and 
crept  cautiously  along  the  bank.  Owing  to  the  violence  of  the 
storm  and  the  thick  darkness,  they  passed  the  bend  unperceived, 
until  within  a  few  rods  of  the  upper  battery,  and  then  a  flash  of 
lightning  revealed  to  the  sentinels  some  dark  object  approaching  the 
island.  They  fired  at  random,  the  shots  passing  quite  near  the 
boats,  but  providentially  doing  no  harm.  The  sentinels  fell  back  to 
their  tents,  which  were  pitched  some  distance  from  the  battery  on  a 


RUNNING   THE   BATTERIES.  221 

dry  ridge,  evidently  believing  the  entire  Lincoln  army  was  on  them. 
The  boats  made  no  answer,  but  steadily  pulled  for  shore.  In  two 
or  three  minutes  they  touched  the  slope  of  the  earthworks,  and  in 
less  than  as  many  more,  the  brave  lads  were  over  the  parapet  and 
among  the  guns.  In  less  than  three  minutes  all  of  them  were  spiked 
after  the  most  approved  and  artistic  style.  There  were  six  of  them, 
two  sixty-fours,  three  eighties,  and  one  of  them  a  superb  nine-inch 
pivot  gun,  with  cushion  lock,  had  the  honor  of  receiving  Col.  Rob 
ert's  special  attention.  This  was  said  to  be  the  "Lady  Davis,"  a 
boasted  and  noisy  piece,  from  these,  or  other  considerations,  named 
for  the  wife  of  Jefferson  Davis.  A  few  moments  and  all  were  again 
on  board,  rowing  through  the  boiling  current  and  Cimmerian  dark 
ness  for  the  shelter  of  the  Benton.  It  was  bravely,  nobly  done. 

The  beneficial  results  of  this  were  seen  when,  on  the  night  of  the 
3d,  the  Carondelet,  having  protected  her  bulwarks  with  hay,  etc., 
set  out  upon  the  hardy  mission  of  running  the  blockade  and  going 
below  to  Gen.  Pope.  Had  that  battery  been  in  condition,  the  daring 
boat  had  been  inevitably  sunk,  but  she  laughed  defiantly  at  the 
shower  from  small  arms  that  pattered  about  her.  She  reported  to  Gen. 
Pope,  and  within  a  few  days  silenced  eleven  batteries  in  the  twelve 
miles  between  Point  Pleasant  and  New  Madrid.  The  Pittsburg 
followed  on  the  night  of  the  6th,  and  the  fate  of  the  Island  was 
sealed.  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  transports  were  brought 
through  the  canal  into  the  river,  and  while  the  division  of  Col. 
Paine  was  embarking,  the  gun-boats  run  down  the  river  and  silenced 
the  battery.  The  passage  of  the  river  was  completed  at  midnight. 
As  soon  as  the  loyal  troops  began  to  cross,  the  enemy  began  to 
evacuate  the  Island  and  his  batteries  along  the  Kentucky  shore.  The 
main-land  force  retreated  disgracefully.  Yet  four  generals,  six 
colonels,  with  the  corresponding  number  of  subordinate  officers, 
with  about  5,000  men,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  cannon,  eleven 
batteries  with  vast  quantities  of  small  arms  and  stores  fell  into  our 
hands.  When  the  forces  crossed  the  river,  the  advance  was  led  by 
Gen.  Paine. 

Thus  closed  another  epoch  of  the  war  and  the  country  again 
breathed  more  freely. 


222  PATRIOTISM  OF  LILINOI5. 

A  paper  lying  upon  the  table  where  these  lines  are  written,  dated 
the  9th  of  April,  says : 

"From  all  accounts  the  impending  battle  near  Corinth  will  be  the  most  important 
of  any  that  has  been  fought  during  the  war.  The  fact  that  the  Confederates  are 
drawing  their  troops  from  all  quarters  to  the  North  part  of  Mississippi  and  Ala 
bama,  where  they  intend  to  fall  upon  the  Union  advance  under  Grant  is  palpable. 
Beauregard  is  doubtless  directing  the  effort  at  concentration.  Bragg  has  already 
brought  up  his  force  from  Pensacola,  abandoning  the  siege  of  Fort  Pickens ;  Van 
Dorn  and  Sterling  Price  are  hurrying  forward  from  Western  Arkansas  ;  even  Vir 
ginia  is  being  stripped  of  rebel  soldiers  to  swell  the  grand  army  of  the  West.  The 
intent  evidently  is  to  fall  upon  our  Tennessee  army  with  an  immense  force  gathered 
from  all  quarters,  and  repeat  the  lessons  of  Wilson's  Creek  and  Lexington." 

This  shows  the  public  presentiment  in  reference  to  the  storm  which 
burst  in  awful  terribleness  upon  the  banks  of  the  Tennessee  River  on 
the  morning  of  April  6,  1862,  where  all  was  so  nearly  lost,  and  yet 
so  bravely  won. 

Before  narrating  the  events  of  that  terrible  field,  we  must  follow 
a  portion  of  our  troops  who  have  been  in  the  thunders  of  battle 
under  the  lead  of  Curtis,  Sigel,  Asboth  and  Davis,  where  again 
Iowa,  Missouri,  Indiana  and  Illinois  were  to  win  imperishable  re 
nown. 

Gen.  S.  R.  Curtis  was  in  command  of  "  the  army  of  the  South 
west,"  confronted  by  Price  with  a  superior  and  augmenting  force, 
and  early  in  March  he  saw  a  battle  was  inevitable.  His  army  was 
divided  into  four  divisions,  commanded,  in  order,  by  Generals  Sigel, 
Asboth,  Davis  and  Col.  Carr. 

Gen.  Curtis  had  been  in  pursuit  of  Price,  and  his  winter  cam 
paign — from  January  20th  to  March  1,  1862— had  been  one  of  much 
severity  and  positive  hardship,  his  men  skirmishing  as  they  traveled; 
but  he  had  steadily  driven  Price  until  he  had  chased  his  force  across 
the  Arkansas  line,  but  there  the  rebel  chieftain  was  reinforced  by  Van 
Dorn  and  McCulloch,  increasing  this  army  to  more  than  30,000  men, 
of  whom  Van  Dorn  assumed  chief  command,  and  determined  to  give 
the  Federal  General  battle,  not  doubting  but  he  could  turn  upon  him 
and  crush  him  by  overwhelming  superiority  of  numbers.  Gen.  Curtis 
reported  his  forces  in  February  as  12,095,  with  fifty  pieces  of  artillery, 
including  four  mountain  howitzers.  Curtis'  divisions  were  separated. 
He  selected  Sugar  Creek  as  the  most  favorable  battle-ground  to  meet 


BATTLE   OF   TEA  RIDGE.  223 

Van  Dorn,  and  dispatched  orders  for  the  concentration  of  his  entire 
force,  which,  on  the  4th  of  March  was  located  as  follows :  First  and 
second  divisions  under  Sigel,  were  four  miles  southwest  of  Benton- 
ville  ;  the  third,  under  Gen.  Davis,  had  moved  and  taken  its  position 
at  Sugar  Creek:,  while  Carr's,  the  fourth,  was  at  Cross  Hollows. 
Sigel  set  out  at  once,  on  the  6th  of  March,  to  obey  the  order  to  con* 
centrate,  but  was  compelled  to  fight  his  way,  a  strong  force  attempt 
ing  to  cut  him  off.  All  the  divisions  being  in,  the  General  com 
manding  gave  orders  to  prepare  for  battle  on  the  morning  of  the  7th. 

It  came,  and  with  it  the  battle-shock  in  all  its  terribleness.  The 
right  wing  of  Curtis  was  worsted,  but  his  left  had  been  successful, 
and  the  rebel  Generals  McCulloch  and  Mclntosh  were  slain,  but  the 
night  after  the  weary  day  of  battle,  came  with  no  cheerful  prophecy 
to  the  Federals.  They  lay  down  cold,  chilly,  without  fires,  for  Avant 
of  which  they  suffered,  but  which  could  not  be  kindled  with  safety. 
The  enemy,  during  the  night,  effected  a  junction  of  all  his  forces  on 
the  ground  held  by  his  successful  left  wing,  intending,  with  morn 
ing,  to  crush  the  Federal  army  by  the  tactics  of  massing  his  forces 
and  beating  his  enemy  in  detail.  The  rising  sun  brought  a  renewal 
of  the  fight.  The  Federal  troops  were  skillfully  handled.  The  ar 
tillery  was  so  placed  as  to  pour  concentrated  and  almost  uninter 
rupted  fire  upon  the  Confederates.  The  artillery  management  of 
Gen.  Sigel  was  most  skillful,  and  not  a  few  openly  expressed  the 
opinion  that  the  deliverance  of  the  army  was  due  to  him.  At  length 
victory  crowned  the  arms  of  the  Union  and  the  foe  retreated. 

The  victory  was  dearly  bought,  for  the  division  reports  showed  a 
loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  of  1,351.  It  is  not  the  province 
of  this  work  to  enter  controversies  which  have  grown  out  of  the 
three  day's  battle  of  Pea  Ridge.  There  was  gallant  fighting  and  a 
brilliant  victory,  and  in  that  victory  all  had  a  share  from  the  General 
commanding  down  to  the  drummer  boy.  Of  the  Illinois  troops,  the 
35th,  Col.  G.  A.  Smith,  36th,  Col.  Greusel,  37th,  Col.  Julius  White, 
the  59th,  Major  Post,  3d,  cavalry,  Col.  Carr,  a  battallion  of  the  loth 
cavalry,  Capt.  Jenks  commanding,  and  Davidson's  Peoria  battery 
were  in  the  action  and  acquitted  themselves  as  elsewhere,  bravely. 
A  drummer-boy,  Day  Ellmore,  of  the  36th,  threw  aside  his  drum, 


224  PATRIOTISM   OF  ILLINOIS. 

seized  a  musket   and  fought  in   line    through   the    entire    battle. 
McCulloch  was  killed  by  Peter  Pelican,  of  the  same  regiment. 

Before  going  to  the  grand  gathering  of  our  State  troops  at  the 
plain  of  Shiloh,  some  brief  notice  of  officers  who  have  figured  in  the 
actions  thus  far  will  not  be  inappropriate. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  JOHN  POPE. 

He  was  born  in  Kaskaskia,  Illinois,  March  12,  1823.  His  father 
was  Hon.  Nathaniel  Pope,  territorial  delegate  in  Congress  from 
Illinois,  and  district  judge.  In  1838,  John  entered  the  Military 
Academy  at  West  Point  and  graduated  in  1842,  and  was  commis 
sioned  a  brevet  2d  Lieutenant  in  the  corps  of  topographical  engi 
neers.  In  the  Mexican  war  he  was  in  General  Taylor's  army  and 
received  his  commission  as  1st  Lieutenant  for  gallant  conduct  at 
Monterey,  and  for  bravery  at  Buena  Vista,  was  made  captain  by 
brevet,  his  commission  being  dated  February  23,  1846.  In  1840  he 
was  in  command  of  the  Minnesota  exploring  expedition,  and  was 
entrusted  with  an  expedition  to  test  the  practicability  of  boring  Arte 
sian  wells  on  the  great  Staked  Plain  which  stretches  in  terrible  ari 
dity  and  sterility  between  Texas  and  New  Mexico.  It  is  conceded 
that  the  experiment  yielded  more  romance  than  water.  In  1853, 
he  had  command  of  one  of  the  Pacific  Railroad  surveying  com 
panies.  From  1854  to!859  he  spent  in  the  exploration  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  while  in  this  service,  received  the  actual  rank  of 
captain  in  the  Topographical  Engineering  corps.  He  participated 
to  some  extent  with  the  Republicans  in  the  contest  of  1860,  and 
having,  in  a  public  lecture  delivered  in  Cincinnati,  dealt  sxxmewhat 
severely  with  Mr.  Buchanan,  the  venerable  Chief- Magistrate  was 
offended,  and  the  captain  was  court-martialed,  but  Mr.  Holt  had 
the  good  sense  to  see  that  the  President  was  making  himself  more 
than  ever  ridiculous,  and  the  prosecution  was  abandoned.  He  was 
one  of  the  escort  chosen  to  conduct  Mr.  Lincoln  to  Washington. 

When  the  war  came  he  was  still  captain.  When  the  call  was 
made  for  four  hundred  thousand  men  he  was  appointed  Brigadier- 
General  of  volunteers,  with  commission  dating  from  May  17,  1861, 
and  appointed  to  a  command  in  Missouri.  He  was  made  a  Briga- 


MAJOR-GENERAL   JOHN   POPE.  225 

dier  in  the  regular  army,  July  14,  1862,  and  Major-General  of  vol 
unteers,  March  21,  1862. 

In  his  command  in  North  Missouri  he  manifested  much  vigor  and 
ability  in  checking  guerrillas,  protecting  railways,  &c.  He  broke 
up  predatory  bands,  hunted  them  to  their  places  of  concealment, and 
caused  a  wholesome  terror  of  law  and  order  as  interpreted  by  Fed 
eral  bayonets  to  fall  upon  them.  He  conducted  a  successful  expe 
dition  to  Blackwater,  where  a  sharp  blow  was  delivered,  numerous 
rebel  prisoners  taken  and  the  rebel  force  dispersed. 

How  well  he  did  at  Commerce,  New  Madrid  and  Island  No.  10, 
this  chapter  has  declared.  Moving  upon  Fort  Pillow,  Gen. 
Halleck  stopped  him,  sent  him  to  Pittsburgh  Landing,  and  he  had 
charge  of  a  division  on  Halleck's  left.  While  engaged  in  the  pur 
suit  of  Beauregard,  he  was  summoned  to  Washington  to  assume 
command  of  the  Federal  forces  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  with 
Banks,  Fremont,  and  McDowel  as  subordinates.  Here  it  was  his 
ill-fortune  to  issue  an  address  which  was  doubtless  well  intended 
and  patriotic,  but  not  modest,  and  which  seemed  arrogant  and  boast 
ful.  It  was  rather  the  inflated  style  of  the  neophyte  than  the  calm 
dignity  of  the  master,  rather  the  exuberant  boasting  of  the  militia 
Colonel  to  whom  gilt-buttons,  eagles,  blue  and  brass,  sword  and 
scabbard  were  intoxicating  novelties,  rather  than  the  sober  dignity 
of  the  regular  veteran  to  whom  the  odor  of  "villainous  saltpeter" 
is  more  familiar  than  that  of  rose-water. 

As  was  to  be  expected  he  gave  offence.  The  newspapers  criti 
cised,  and  masters  in  rhetoric  exhibited  his  address  as  a  fine  speci 
men  of  pyrotechnic  English.  General  Fremont  regarded  the  ap 
pointment  as  an  affront  and  resigned  his  command,  being  unwilling 
to  serve  as  General  Pope's  subordinate. 

He  fought  the  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  fought  bravely  and 
claimed  a  victory,  but  after  all  was  compelled  to  find  the  lines  of 
retreat.  He  claimed  it  as  a  decided  success.  It  is  true  that  Bank's 
command  fought  long  and  nobly,  and  the  enemy  retired  across  the 
river  a  few  miles  toward  Gordonsville,  but  there  was  no  substantial 
triumph-  On  the  18th  and  19th  of  August  General  Pope  retired  be 
hind  the  North  Fork  of  the  Rappahannock. 

His  command  of  the  "Army  of  Virginia"  was  far  from  a  plea-, 

15 


226  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

sant  one  to  him.  He  was  active,  and  could  he  have  had  co-operation 
such  as  a  commanding  General  should  have  ha;!,  the  result  would 
probably  have  been  very  different.  It  may  be  that  when  calmer 
days  come,  when  the  smoke  of  recent  events  and  recent  controver 
sies  shall  have  lifted,  and  men  see  clearly,  that  it  will  be  said  "  Gon. 
Popi-'s  plans  were  not  visionary,  but  if  the  men  had  been  brought 
him  ho  had  a  right  to  ask,  and  the  co-operation  been  given  him 
which  as  a  commander  and  a  fellow  soldier  he  had  the  right  to  de 
mand,  the  battles  of  the  Antietam  and  the  Wilderness  might  h:\ve 
been  spared." 

Under  his  command  were  also  fought  the  battles  near  the  Rappa- 
hannock  and  Kettle  River,  the  second  battle  of  Manassas,  Grovel  on 
and  Chantilly.  The  reverses  of  the  earlier  battles  threw  the  country 
into  sadness  and  brought  gloom  upon  the  brave  and  loyal  North. 
At  Chantilly  the  enemy  was  driven,  but  the  advantage  was  gained 
with  the  loss  of  the  brave,  knightly  Kearney,  and  the  gallant 
Stephens. 

Divisions  reigned  among  high  Federal  officer?.  Jealousy  was  one 
of  the  household  gods  of  the  epauletts  of  the  Potomac.  Pope,  Burn- 
side,  Hooker,  each  was  to  be  sacrificed,  and  months  of  sorrow  and 
blood  were  to  pass,before  in  Grant  and  Meade,  men  should  be  found 
of  sufficient  strength  to  resist  these  baleful  influences. 

Relieved  from  the  command  of  the  army  of  Virginia  at  his  own 
suggestion,  he  was  assigned  to  the  Department  of  the  Northwest,  in 
cluding  Wisconsin,  Iowa  and  Minnesota,  and  has  had  charge  of  the 
Indian  war,  though  not  personally  in  the  field.  Brave,  daring,  skil 
ful,  it  seems  that  a  busier  field  should  be  found  for  such  a  man. 

His  services  may  come  before  us  again  as  we  tread  the  war-path, 
but  this  much  maybe  added:  General  Pope  is  believed  by  many 
of  his  native  State  to  have  the  elements  of  a  most  successful  leader, 
and  to  have  been  sacrificed  to  jealousy  or  something  worse,  by  men 
;not  so  thoroughly  in  earnest  as  himself. 

GENERAL  JULKIS  WHITE. 

Julius  White,  son  of  Lemuel  and  Emily  While,  was  born  at  Caz- 
enovia,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  September  29,  1816.  When  the 
'battle  of  Bull  Run  was  fought,  July  22,  1861,  Mr.  White  resided 


GEN.    WHITE  AND  THE  3?TH   ILLINOIS.  227 

•at  Chicago,  Illinois,  and  held  the  honorable  and  lucrative  office  of 
Collector  of  Customs.  He  promptly  determined  to  enter  the  army, 
and  the,  next  day  applied  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  obtained 
authority  to  raise  a  regiment  of  infantry— the  3 7th  Illinois — to  serve 
for  three  years  or  during  the  war. 

This   regiment   was    mustered    into    the    service  of  the    United 

O 

States  on  the  18th  of  September,  1861.  Mr.  White  having  been 
commissioned  Colonel,  proceeded  to  Missouri  under  the  orders 
of  Major-General  Fremont,  was  assigned  to  the  Division  com 
mand  jd  by  Brigadier- General  John  Pope  and  accompanied  the  ex 
pedition  under  General  Fremont  to  Southwestern  Missouri,  in 
'October,  1881— returned  to  Otterville,  Mo.,  under  the  command  of 
Major-General  D.  Hunter,  in  November,  and  remained  in  winter- 
quarters,  at  that  post,  till  January  25,  1862. 

In  December,  1861,  Colonel  White  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  2d  Brigade,  3d  Division  of  the  army  of  the  Southwest,  con 
sisting  of  his  own  regiment,  the  37th  Illinois,  the  59th  Illinois,  and 
Davidson's  Peoria  Battery.  On  the  25th  of  January,  the  division 
under  command  of  Brigadier-General  J.  C.  Davis,  marched  to 
Lebanon,  Mo.,  there  joining  the  forces  under  Major-General  Curtis 
in  the  pursuit  of  Price. 

Tho  enemy  evacuated  Springfield  and  retreated  into  Arkansas, 
•closely  followed  by  the  forces  under  General  Curtis.  After  being 
reinforced  by  Ben.  McCulloch,  came  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge. 

The  2d  Brigade,  Colonel  White's  command,  held  a  position 
against  the  attack  of  MoCullooh's  entire  force  for  three-quarters  of 
an  hour  unsupported,  during  which  time  the  loss  of  the  brigade  in 
killed  and  wounded  was  nearly  equal  to  one-fourth  its  strength. 

On  being  reinforced  by  the  first  brigade,  the  enemy  was  driven  in 
great  confusion  from  the  field,  with  the  loss  among  their  killed  of 
Generals  MoCulloch  and  Mclntosh. 

The  official  reports  of  Brigadier-General  Davis  and  Major-Gen. 
'Curtis,  commended  the  conduct  of  Colonel  White  and  his  corn- 
man  1  for  their  bravery  and  perseverance  in  this  action.  The  Colo 
nel  having  been  disabled  by  fracture  of  the  leg,  received  a  leave  of 
absence  for  thirty  days,  commencing  in  the  latter  part  of  March, 
Which  was  subsequently  extended  thirty  days,  he  being  unfit  for 
duty  at  the  expiration  of  the  original  term. 


228  PATKIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

On  rejoining  his  regiment  he  was  placed  in  command  of  a  district 
comprising  several  counties  in  the  extreme  Southwestern  part  of 
Missouri.  While  in  this  position  he  started  an  expedition  into  Ar 
kansas,  and  at  Fayetteville  captured  five  rebel  officers,  and  eighty 
enlisted  men,  who  were  engaged  in  enforcing  the  conscription  of 
men  for  the  rebel  army.  The  expedition  suffered  no  loss. 

Col.  White  was  promoted  to  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers 
to  rank  from  June  9,  1862,  and  ordered  to  report  for  duty  to 
Major-General  Fremont,  commanding  the  Mountain  Department 
in  Virginia.  That  department  was,  however,  immediately  merged 
in  the  command  of  Major-General  John  Pope,  known  as  the 
army  of  Virginia,  and  Gen.  White  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
a  detached  brigade  of  the  First  Corps,  stationed  at  Winchester,  Va. 
This  command  was  assumed  by  him,  on  the  28th  day  of  July,  1802, 
and  held  until  September  1st,  when  he  was  ordered  by  the  General  - 
in-chief  to  evacuate  Winchester  and  retire  to  Harper's  Ferry, 
During  the  occupation  of  Winchester  frequent  skirmishes  were  had 
with  the  enemy,  with  inconsiderable  results. 

The  official  report  of  Major-General  Pope  contains  the  following : 

"  Brigadier-General  Julius  White  with  one  brigade  was  in  the  beginning  of  the 
campaign  placed  in  command  at  Winchester.  He  was  selected  for  that  position 
because  I  felt  entire  confidence  in  his  courage  and  ability,  and  during  the  whole  of 
his  service  there  he  performed  his  duty  with  the  utmost  efficiency,  and  relieved  me 
entirely  from  any  apprehension  concerning  that  region  of  country." 

On  reaching  Harper's  Ferry,  September  3,  1862,  General  White 
was  directed  by  Major-General  Wool,  who  commanded  that  depart 
ment,  to  turn  over  his  brigade  to  Colonel  Miles,  commanding  the 
post,  and  proceed  to,  and  take  command  at  Martinsburg,  Va. 

While  stationed  at  that  place  the  enemy's  cavalry  known  as 
A shby's  regiment,  attacked  General  White's  out-posts  and  were  de 
feated  with  the  loss  of  twenty-five  killed,  over  fifty  wounded,  .-ind 
forty-one  prisoners  with  their  horses  and  arms.  For  this  en^nge- 
ment  he  received  from  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  War  the  following 
dispatch  by  telegraph : 

"Your  success  this  afternoon  is  very  gratifying,  and  highly  creditable  to  you. 
Every  man  must  fight  as  if  the  safety  of  the  country  depended  upon  his  individual 
exertions.  (Signed)  E.  M.  STANTON,  Sec'y  of  War." 


SURRENDER   OF   HARPER' S    FERRY.  229 

On  the  10th  of  September,  Stonewall  Jackson  approached  Mar- 
tinsburg  with  an  overwhelming  force,  whereupon  the  place  was 
evacuated  and  Gtn.  White  with  his  troops  retired  to  Harper's 
Ferry.  That  place  was  immediately  invested  by  the  enemy,  and 
capitulated  after  four  day's  siege.  On  his  arrival  General  White 
declined  to  deprive  Col.  Miles  of  the  command  of  the  post  soLly 
on  account  of  superior  rank,  in-as-much  as  Col.  Miles  was  familiar 
with  the  topography  of  the  place  and  vicinity  and  especially  be 
cause  Major-General  Wool  had  in  so  .marked  a  manner  expressed 
his  preference  that  the  Colonel  should  remain  in  command.  Gen. 
White  volunteered  to  serve  under  Colonel  Miles,  and  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  Bolivar  Rights.  During  the  siege  an  attack 
by  the  rebel  General  A.  P.  Hill  on  that  position  was  repulsed. 

The  surrender  took  place  on  the  15th  of  September,  and  was  sub 
sequently  imde  the  subject  of  investigation  by  a  military  commis 
sion,  of  which  Major-General  D.  Hunter  was  President.  The 
report  of  this  commission  among  other  things  contains  the  follow 
ing: 

"Brigadier-General  Julius  White  merits  its  commendation.  He 
appears  from  the  evidence  to  have  acted  with  decided  courage  and 
capability"  (See  General  Order  A.  G.  O.  183,  series  of  18G2). 

In  January,  1863,  the  troops  captured  at  Harper's  Ferry  were  ex 
changed.  Gen.  White,  who  had  received  leave  of  absence  in  No 
vember,  1862,  "till  exchanged,"  applied  immediately  for  orders,  and 
was  directed  to  report  to  Mnj.-Gen.  Wright,  commanding  the  De 
partment  of  the  Ohio,  for  duty,  and  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Eastern  District  of  Kentucky,  a  mountainous  region,  which 
was  overrun  by  guerrillas.  This  command  was  assumed  in  the 
latter  part  of  January,  18(>3.  During  the  six  months  that  ensued 
Gen.  White  and  his  forces  were  constantly  employed  in  ridding  the 
district  of  these  bands.  More  than  five  hundred  were  killed  or 
captured  in  small  parties  during  the  time.  An  attack  by  the  rebel 
Gen.  Humphrey  Marshall  on  Louisa,  Ky.,  was  repulsed  in  March. 

In  June  he  moved  with  his  troops  up  the  Sandy  River,  and  di 
viding  his  force  at  Pikeville,  Ky.,  into  three  columns,  led  the  central 
one  in  a  demonstration  upon  the  salt  works,  near  Abingdon,  Va,, 
and  sent  a  detachment  on  each  side  under  Col.  Cameron,  of  the 


230  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

65th  111.  infantry,  and  Major  Brown,  of  the  10th  Ivy.  cavalry,  re 
spectively,  to  the  Tug  Ford,  of  the  Sandy  River,  and  to  Gladesville, 
Va.  The  latter  place  was  stormed  at  daylight  on  the  6th  of  July 
by  Major  Brown,  killing  twenty-one  of  the  enemy,  and  wounding 
many.  Candill,  a  rebel  Colonel,  with  nineteen  other  officers,  and 
ninety-nine  enlisted  men  were  captured.  Colonel  Cameron  had  a 
running  fight  with  the  enemy,  killing  three  and  capturing  twenty. 
The  enemy  directly  in  front  of  the  central  column  decamped  in  the 
night  and  retreated  to  their  entrenchments  at  the  salt  works,  sixty 
inilos  distant  from  Pikeville.  The  objects  of  the  expedition  having. 
been  attained,  it  returned  to  Louisa,  Ky.,  its  total  loss  being  nine 
wounded,  none  mortally. 

In  August,  1863,  Gen.  White  was  assigned  to  command  of  a 
brigade  of  cavalry  in  the  Cavalry  Division  of  the  23d  Army  Corps. 
Shortly  afterward  the  command  of  the  2d  Division  of  that  Corps 
was  given  to  him  in  consequence  of  the  sickness  of  Brig.  Gen,, 
Manson,  who  had  been  assigned  to  it* 

This  Division,  consisting  of  eight  regiments  of  infantry,  three 
batteries  of  artillery  and  a  detachment  of  cavalry,  marched  from. 
Columbia,  Ky.,  as  a  part  of  the  force  under  Maj.-Gen.  Bum  side  for 
East  Tennessee,  constituting  the  right  wing,  and  starting  from  a 
point  sixty  miles  west  of  the  main  body,  joined  it  near  the  Emory 
River  in  Tennessee. 

The  march  was  a  toilsome  one.  In  crossing  the  Cumberland 
Mountains  it  became  necessary  to  employ  from  fifty  to  eighty  men 
to  each  wagon,  and  piece  of  artillery,  in  order  to  ascend  the  liights. 
In  this  way  the  entire  train  of  two  hundred  and  forty  wagons,  be 
sides  the  artillery,  was  moved  ten  miles  in  one  day,  in  order  that 
the  junction  with  the  main  body  at  the  time  indicated  in  General 
White's  orders  might  be  accomplished.  On  communicating  with 
Maj.-Gen.  Hartsuif,  commanding  the  Corps,  from  Jamestown,  Tenn., 
the  latter  expressed  himself  in  the  following  language  among  other 
things,  by  letter : 

"You  have  done  wonderfully  well,  and  are  a  day  and  a  half 
ahead  of  all  other  troops  of  this  army.  You  will  await  further  or 
ders  where  you  are." 

Gen.  White's  command  was  stationed  at  London,  on  the  Tennes- 


TENN.  231 

see  River  most  of  the  time  for  the  next  two  and  a  half  months,  during 
which  it  was  not  engaged  with  the  enemy  except  in  some  inconsid 
erable  skirmishes. 

On  November  13,  1863,  Gen.  Longstreet,  of  the  rebel  army 
crossed  a  part  of  his  forces  over  the  Tennessee  River  at  a  point  six 
miles  below  London.  Maj.-Gcn.  Barn  side  directed  the  retirement 
of  the  troops  at  London  in  the  direction  of  Knoxville,  but  on  reach 
ing  Lennis'  Station  the  order  was  countermanded  and  Gen.  White's 
command  ordered  forward,  supported  by  a  part  of  the  9th  Army 
Corps.  The  enemy  was  attacked  and  driven  back  to  his  bridge. 
Repeated  charges  were  made  by  Gen.  White's  command,  resulting 
in  each  instance  in  dislodging  the  enemy  from  his  positions.  The 
13th  Kentucky  infantry,  comprising  less  than  three  hundred  men, 
losing  about  sixty  in  killed  and  wounded  in  one  of  these  assaults. 
Gen.  White  was  ordered  to  assault  the  bridge  during  the  night, 
supported  by  Ferrero's^  Division  of  the  9th  Corps.  The  night  prov 
ing  exceedingly  dark  and  stormy,  the  order  for  the  attack  was 
countermanded  by  Gen.  Burnside,  and  on  the  following  morning 
the  entire  force  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  Knoxville,  with  Gen. 
White's  command  as  rear  guard.  The  enemy  immediately  follow 
ing  and  attacking  on  the  rear  and  left  flank. 

Owing  to  the  exhaustion  of  the  horses  and  the  very  bad  state  of 
the  roads,  one  caisson  was  abandoned  at  the  foot  of  a  hill  where  the 
ground  was  very  unfavorable  for  fighting. 

The  enemy  were  repulsed  with  heavy  loss  at  the  summit  of  the 
hill,  where  he  made  a  furious  attack.  The  pursuit  was  kept  up  by 
him,  and  light  skirmishing  was  constant.  On  the  next  day,  Nov. 
15th,  on  approaching  Campbell's  Station,  the  junction  of  the  roads 
leading  from  Knoxville  to  London  and  Kingston  respectively,  the 
enemy  attacked  in  great  force  and  vigorously  from  both  roads,  on 
which  he  was  approaching.  Gen.  White's  command  \vas  ordered 
into  line  of  battle,  the  9th  Corps  and  the  cavalry  passing  to  the  rear 
and  forming  to  support  him.  Two  brigades  of  the  9th  Corps  were 
advanced  to  positions,  respectively  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  line 
established  by  him.  The  enemy  advanced  in  three  lines  but  was 
repulsed  in  two  general  and  one  partial  attacks.  The  position  was 
held  from  12  o'clock  M.  till  dark,  when  the  retreat  was  continued, 
and  Knoxville  reached  the  next  morning. 


232  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

The  losses  of  Gen.  White's  command  were  less  than  two  hun 
dred  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  That  of  the  enemy  unknown, 
as  he  occupied  the  ground  as  fast  as  Gen.  Burnside  reti:ed  from  it. 

For  the  part  taken  in  these  engagements  Gen.  White  received  for 
himself  and  his  command,  the  official  commendation  of  his  Corp* 
commander,  Brig.-Gen.  Hanson,  as  well  as  frequent  verbal  approval 
from  Maj.-Gen.  Burnside. 

During  the  siege  of  Knoxville  which  continued  seventeen  days, 
viz.,  from  Nov.  16  to  Dec.  4,  1863,  he  was  in  command  of  a 
work  known  as  Fort  Huntington  Smith,  situated  on  the  light  ccLti-r 
of  the  line  of  entrenchments.  His  artillery  was  on  several  occasions 
engaged  with  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  the  line  of  skirmishers  was 
almost  continually  fighting,  but  no  assault  was  made  on  that  part  of 
the  line. 

On  the  raising  of  the  siege  his  command  was,  with  the  remainder 
of  the  forces,  ordered  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  remained  in  posi 
tion  at  and  about  Blains'  Cross  Roads,  Tenn.,  for  about  four  weeks 
thereafter. 

On  the  22d  day  of  December,  Brig.-Gen.  Hanson  was  relieved  of 
the  command  of  the  Corps  by  Brig.- Gen.  Cox,  by  order  of  M;;jor- 
General  Foster,  then  in  command  of  the  Department.  Gen.  Han 
son  being  the  ranking  officer  was  then  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  2d  Division. 

On  being  relieved  Gen.  White,  with  the  concurrence  of  the  Corps 
and  Department  commanders,  availed  himself  of  a  leave  of  absence 
for  thirty  days,  (which  had  been  in  his  possession  several  weeks). 
On  his  way  north  he  was  seized  writh  violent  illness,  and  was  con 
fined  to  the  house  during  the  entire  remaining  term  of  his  leave. 

On  recovering  he  was  ordered  to  duty  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  in 
command  of  the  general  rendezvous  for  drafted  men  and  volunteers 
in  that  State,  where  he  remained  until  June,  1864,  when  he  was 
ordered  to  report  for  duty  to  Hajor-General  Heade,  command 
ing  the  Army  .of  the  Potomac,  and  assigned  to  the  9th  Army 
Corps  under  General  Burnside.  At  the  request  of  the  latt-r,  he- 
was  appointed  Chief  of  Staff  and  served  in  that  capacity  till  July. 
He  participated  in  the  battle  of  July  30th,  was  assigned  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  1st  Division,  9th  Corps,  July,  and  with  the  Division 


GENERAL    CARR.  233 

participated  in  two  general  engagements  for  the  possession  of  the 
Wei  Ion  Railroad,  August  19th  and  21st,  1864,  defeating  and  driving 
the  right  of  the  enemy's  line  from  the  field  on  the  19th,  capturing 
seventy  prisoners  and  over  five  hundred  stand  of  small  arms  thrown 
away  by  the  enemy  in  his  flight. 

Subsequently,  prostrating  and  protracted  illness  compelled  Gen. 
White  to  tender  his  resignation  which  was  accepted  and  he  re 
turned  to  private  life. 

BRIGADIER  GENERAL  EUGENE  A.  CARR. 

Col.  Carr,  of  the  3d  Illinois  cavalry,  commanded  the  Fourth  Di 
vision  of  Curtis'  army,  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge.  He  was  born 
in  Erie  Co.,  New  York,  March  30,  1830.  His  father,  Clark  M. 
Carr,  removed  to  Galesburg  in  1848,  and  this  State  has,  since  that 
period,  been  the  General's  home.  He  entered  the  military  academy 
at  W^st  Point  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  and  upon  his  graduation  was 
appointed  brevet  2d  Lieut,  of  Mounted  Riflemen.  He  knew  it  not 
at  that  time,  but  his  lot  was  cast  where  he  was  being  fitted  for  the 
work  assigned  him,  the  maintenance  of  the  authority  and  majesty  of 
the  Government. 

His  first  service,  and  a  brief  one,  was  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Mo., 
whence  he  was  ordered  to  Fort  Laramie,  and  was,  for  several  years, 
actively  engaged  in  suppressing  Indian  hostilities  on  the  Western 
plains.  One  of  his  frequent  skirmishes  was  in  1854,  near  the 
Diabole  Mountain,  in  which  as  he  was  pressing  upon  the  rear  of  a 
flying  expedition,  that,  in  spite  of  personal  illness,  he  had  chased 
nearly  one  hundred  miles,  he  was  severely  wounded  by  an  arrow  in 
the  abdomen,  and  until  now  he  has  never  recovered  fully  from  its 
effects.  He  continued  the  pursuit,  routing  the  Indians,  and  inflict 
ing  upon  them  a  heavy  loss  of  their  bravest  warriors.  For  this  he 
received  promotion  into  the  1st  regiment  of  cavalry. 

He  was  to  have  another  lesson,  and  to  learn  the  peculiar  amia 
bility  of  slavery  and  its  disregard  for  law  and  order.  In  1857  he 
was  transferred  to  Kansas,  and  assigned  as  aid  to  Governor  Robert 
J.  Walker.  He  was  there  through  the  Border-Ruffian  war,  for  such 
it  may  almost  be  called,  the  early  stage  of  the  present  gigantic 
strife.  In  the  autumn  he  accompanied  Governor  Walker  to  Wash- 


234  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

ington,  and  in  the  spring  following  (1858)  served  under  Colonel 
(subsequently  General)  Sumner  in  the  Utah  expedition,  where  he 
was  privileged  by  seeing  the  political  workings  of  the  twin  abomi 
nations  of  Slavery  and  Polygamy. 

He  was  promoted  Captain  in  the  regular  army  and  placed  in  com 
mand  at  Fort  Washita,  and  repeatedly  warned  the  War  Department 
of  the  treasonable  movements  of  the  hoary-traitor  Twiggs  and  his 
younger  associates  in  villainy,  but  Floyd,  the  distributor  of  arms, 
and,  more  lately,  the  retiring  hero  of  Donelson,  was  in  power.  He 
could  not  order  their  arrest!  Under  orders,  the  Captain  moved 
with  his  command  through  the  Indian  nation  to  Fort  Leavenworth, 
and  thence  toward  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  took  part  in  the  bloody 
battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  and  covered  SigeFs  retreat. 

He  received  permission  of  the  War  Department  to  accept  the 
command  of  an  Illinois  regiment  of  cavalry,  two  of  which  were 
tendered  him,  and  after  a  short  time  in  camp,  took  the  field  at  the 
head  of  the  3d. 

Joining  General  Curtis,  he  commanded  the  Fourth  Division  and 
sustained  the  brunt  of  the  combined  assaults  of  the  rebel  hordes. 
Terribly  the  tide  of  battle  rolled  about  the  handful  he  commanded. 
Scarcely  2,500  were  with  him,  and  yet  the  loss  of  his  division  was 
700  men,  more  than  half  the  entire  loss.  He  was  thrice  wounded 
in  the  first  day's  battle,  but  bandaging  his  shattered  wrist  and  wear 
ing  it  in  a  sling,  he  continued  with  his  command  until  victory  was 
gained. 

For  gallant  conduct  on  this  occasion  he  was  promoted  Brigadier- 
General  of  Volunteers,  March  V,  1S62,  and  we  may  meet  him  again. 

COL.  NICHOLAS  GREUSEL,  JR. 

In  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  Col.  Greusel  of  the  36th  Illinois,  com 
manded  a  brigade,  and  a  brief  sketch  of  him  may  well  follow  this 
first  notice  of  public  service.  He  was  the  seventh  of  eight  children. 
His  father  was  a  soldier  under  Murat,  and  was  made  sergeant  on  the 
field  for  bravery.  The  son  was  trained  to  understand  the  duties  and 
appreciate  the  honor  of  the  soldier,  His  father's  family  reached 
New  York  June  2,  1833,  and  the  children  were  notified  that  each 
must  find  a  place  for  himself,  which  Nicholas  was  fortunate  enough 


COLONEL   GREUSEL.  235 

to  do  in  the  family  of  Mrs.  N.  Fish,  mother  of  Hon.  Hamilton  Fish, 
Ex-Governor  of  New  York.  Subsequently  he  was  in  the  employ  of 
Gen.  Belnap.  In  1835,  his  father  removed  to  Detroit,  Michigan, 
where  the  son  entered  the  service  of  Rice  &  Co.,  lumber  dealers, 
where  he  continued  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  with  Mexico.  His 
early  teaching  had  led  him  into  a  military  organization,  "  The  Scott 
Guards,1'  of  which  he  had  command,  and  he  received  the  appointment 
of  Captain  of  Co.  G.  1st  Regiment  Michigan  Volunteers,  Col.  T.  B.  W. 
Stockton.  This  regiment  was  brigaded  with  one  from  Alabama, 
and  four  companies  of  Georgia  troops,  and  did  good  service  from 
the  gates  of  Vera  Cruz  to  Orizaba.  Peace  came  and  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out  of  service  July  27,  1848,  and  at  sunrise  on  the 
28th  the  Captain  was  at  his  old  post  in  the  lumber-yard,  as  though 
there  had  been  no  bloody  episode  with  marches  and  weary  battles. 
His  scrupulous  care  for  the  cleanliness  of  his  command  called  out, 
subsequently  to  his  return,  expressions  of  public  admiration  and  offi 
cial  approval. 

Captain  Greusel  continued  in  the  lumber  business  two  years,  and 
was  subsequently  alderman  of  the  city  of  Detroit,  and  was  appointed 
Inspector-General  of  Lumber  for  the  State  of  Michigan.  Col.  Wilson 
says  of  him : 

"In  1857,  Capt.  Greusel  went  to  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  entered 
the  service  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad  Com 
pany,  and  remained  in  their  employ  until  the  bombardment  of 
Fort  Sumter,  April  13,  1861.  On  Monday,  April  loth,  he  en 
rolled  himself  as  a  private  of  a  company  in  the  city  of  Aurora,  and 
arrived  at  Springfield  on  Friday,  with  one  hundred  and  forty-eight 
privates,  and  was  elected  Captain  of  the  same.  On  the  24th  of 
April,  the  first  regiment  was  formed — the  7th.  John  Cook  was 
elected  Colonel,  and  Capt.  Greusel  Major.  The  Major  being  the 
only  man  who  had  ever  done  military  duty,  the  task  of  drilling  the 
regiment  devolved  on  him,  and  it  was  said  by  military  men  to  be 
the  best  drilled  regiment  in  the  service.  There  are  at  this  writing 
fifty-eight  commissioned  officers  who  were  privates  on  the  24th  of 
July  1861.  After  the  three  month's  service,  Major  Gruesel  was  corn- 
missioned  Lieut-Colonel.  On  the  20th  of  August,  he  was  promoted 
to  the  colonelcy  of  the  Fox  River  regiment,  aftewards  called  the  36th 


236  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

regiment  Illinois  volunteers.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  RJ.la, 
Mo.,  for  drill.  On  the  14th  day  of  January,  1862,  it  was  ordered  to 
march  for  Lebanon,  Mo.,  where  it  arrived  on  the  25th  of  January. 
The  regiment  was  brigaded  wit!'  the  13th,  3d  and  17th  Missouri 
volunteers',  Welfley's  Missouri  and  Capt.  Hoffman's  batteries.  Col. 
Greusel  was  placed  in  command  by  Brig.  G^n.  Sigel,  in  which  ca 
pacity  he  followed  Gen.  Price  on  his  retreat  to  Batesville,  Ark.  He 
was  in  the  masterly  retreat  of  Gen.  Sigel  to  Pea  Ridge,  and  fought 
bravely  during  that  ever  memorable  battle  for  three  successive  days. 
He  was  highly  complimented  by  Generals  Curtis  and  Sigel  for  his 
coolness  and  bravery  on  the  field,  especially  for  preventing  a 
stampede,  which  would  have  been  most  disastrous  but  for  the  cool 
ness  and  presence  of  mind  displayed  by  Col.  Greusel. 

"  The  regiment  received  orders,  when  fifteen  miles  beyond  White 
River,  Ark.,  to  proceed  to  Corinth,  by  forced  marches — 240  miles  dis 
tant — which  it  accomplished  in  ten  days,  when  it  embarked  on  the 
steamer  Planet,  and  arrived  and  joined  Gen.  Pope's  command  at 
the  trenches  in  front  of  Corinth,  two  days  before  the  evacuation  of 
that  place  by  Gen.  Beauregard." 

Of  the  further  movements  of  this  gallant  regiment  notice  will  be 
hereafter  taken  and  we  may  meet  him  again. 

Others  who  distinguished  themselves  in  the  campaigns  mentioned 
in  this  chapter  will  bo  noticed  farther  on,  in  connection  with  regi 
mental  histories,  campaign  or  field  sketches,  or  personal  biographies. 

COLONEL  POST  OF  THE  FIFTY-NINTH. 

Colonel  Philip  Sidney  Post  was  born  in  Florida,  Orange  Co.,  New 
York,  in  the  year  1833,  was  educated  at  Union  College  Schenec- 
tady,  N.  Y.,  where  he  graduated  with  the  highest  honors  in  1855, 
and  immediately  entered  the  law  school  at  Poughkeepsie,  N".  Y. 
His  father,  General  Peter  Schuyler  Post  (a  soldier  of  1812,  and  a 
man  distinguished  for  his  martial  spirit,  probity  and  energy),  re 
moved  with  his  family  to  Gnlesburg,  Illinois,  the  same  year.  Upon 
leaving  the  law  school,  Colonel  Post  followed  his  family  West  and 
spent  a  year  in  traveling  through  the  States  of  Illinois,  Iowa,  Wis 
consin  and  Minnesota,  making  the  journey  through  the  wilder- 


COLONEL  POST.  237 

ness  between  St.  Paul  to  Lake  Superior  on  foot.  In  1857,  he  set 
tled  in  Wyandotte,  Kansas,  and  was  soon  engaged  in  an  extensive 
practice  of  his  profession  in  the  courts  of  the  southern  counties  of 
the  territory.  He  also  purchased  a  printing  office  and  established 
the  Wyandotte  Argus  of  which  he  subsequently  assumed  e  litorial 
control  without,  however,  relinquishing  the  practice  of  the  law. 

In  the  spring  of  1861,  he  rejoined  his  family  in  Illinois  prepara 
tory  to  entering  the  army  of  the  Union.  On  the  17th  of  July  he 
was  mustered  as  2d  Lieutenant  in  a  company  raised  in  Knox  Co., 
Illinois.  At  that  time  the  government  would  not  receive  troops 
from  this  State,  and  this  company  in  order  to  enter  the  service,  pro 
ceeded  to  St.  Louis  and  became  Co.  A  of  the  9th  Regt.  Mo.  Vols. 
The  regiment  was  wholly  composed  of  citizens  of  Illinois  and  sub 
sequently,  by  an  order  from  the  War  Department,  it  became  the 
59th  Ills.  Vol.  Infantry. 

It  was  organized  by  the  appointment  of  J.  C.  Kelton,  Assistant 
Adjutant-General,  Department  of  Mississippi,  as  Colonel,  and  Lieut. 
Post  as  Adjutant.  In  January,  the  Adjutant  was  promoted  to 
Major  and  took  command  of  the  regiment  in  the  stern  mid- winter 
march  to  join  General  Curtis  on  the  toilsome  and  vigorous  cam 
paign  which  preceded  the  bloody  battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  Arkansas,  at 
which  engagement  Major  Post  was  shot  through  the  shoulder,  but 
utterly  refused  to  leave  the  fi.ld  until,  becoming  helpless  from  loss  of 
blood,  he  was  carried  off.  His  gallantry  received  especial  mention  in 
the  official  reports,  and  ten  days  after  the  battle,  having  been  unani 
mously  elected  by  the  officers  of  the  regiment,  he  was  commissioned 
Colonel  in  place  of  Colonel  Kelton,  who  had  been  detached  on 
the  staff  of  Major-General  Halleck,  and  who  resigned  upon  hearing 
the  news  of  the  battle,  and  recommended  the  appointment  of 
Major  Post. 

In  Miy,  1862,  though  still  suffering  from  Che  effects  of  the  wound 
which  nearly  cost  him  his  life,  he  reached  Hamburg  Landing  and 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  brigade,  which  he  marched  to  its 
place  in  the  line  of  battle  before  Corinth  four  days  before  the  evac 
uation  of  that  place.  The  summer  of  1832  he  spent  in  Mississippi, 
actively  engaged  in  military  duties.  When  it  was  determined  to 
destroy  the  large  factories  at  Bay  Springs,  Col.  Post  was  entrusted 


PATRIOTISM   OP   ILLINOIS. 

with  the  attack  on  the  place,  which  he  entered,  surprising  the  enemy 
and  driving  them  out  in  confusion,  and  completely  disabling  the 
mills.  One  week  later  he  commanded  an  expedition  to  Allsbormigh- 
Ala.,  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  a  large  amount  of  cotton  from  the 
enemy.  Starting  from  luka  at  midnight,  driving  the  enemy  before 
him,  he  seized  and  loaded  and  brought  away  with  him  $80,000 
worth  of  cotton,  and  returned  to  luka  in  less  than  twenty  hours, 
having  marched  thirty-six  miles. 

On  the  18th  of  August,  Col.  Post's  brigade  commenced  to  cross 
the  Tennessee  River  at  Enstport,  en  route  to  assist  in  expelling 
Bragg  from  Tennessee  an  1  Kentucky,  and  from  that  time  he  became 
identified  with  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  and  of  the  Cumberland.  At 
Louisville,  on  the  29th  of  September,  a  new  brigade  was  organized 
for  Col.  Post  consisting  of  the  22d  Indiana  infantry,  the  59lh,  4th, 
and  5th  Illinois  infantry  and  the  5th  Wisconsin  battery,  which  be 
came  the  1st  Brigade,  1st  Division,  20th  Army  Corps,  or  the  right 
brigade  of  the  entire  army. 

During  thirteen  months  Col.  Post  commanded  the  brigade  which 
Major-General  Rosecrans,  the  Department  Commander,  especially 
referred  to  as  "distinguished  for  drill  and  discipline." 

The  separation  of  the  regiments  in  the  re-organization  which  suc 
ceeded  the  Chickamauga  campaign,  was  the  occasion  for  issuing  the 
followin  order  : 


"HEAD-QUARTERS  IST  BRTG.,  IST  Div.,  20™  ARMY  , 

"Chattanooga,  October  16,  1803.     ) 

"General  Orders,  No.  61. 

"In  the  re-organization  of  the  army,  this  brigade  will  lose  its  identity,  and  be 
transferred  to  another  division  and  corps. 

"Organized  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  more  than  a  year  ago,  it  has  traversed  Ken 
tucky  and  Tennessee,  scaled  the  mountains  of  Northern  Alabama  and  Georgia,  and 
now  terminates  its  existence  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennessee.  The  year  during 
which  it  has  remained  intact  will  ever  be  remembered  as  that  in  which  the  gallant 
armies  of  the  West  rolled  back  the  advancing  hosts  of  rebellion,  and  extinguished 
the  Confederacy  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi. 

"In  accomplishing  this  glorious  achievement,  you  —  soldiers  of  the  1st  Brigade-  — 
have  performed  no  mean  part.  On  the  laborious  march  you  have  been  patient  and 
energetic,  and  in  the  battle  and  skirmish  second  to  none  in  stubborn  valor  and 
success.  In  one  year  you  lost  upon  the  battle-field  eight  hundred  and  fifty  heroic 
comrades. 


COLONEL   POST.  239 

"  Baptized  in  blood  at  Perry ville,  tins  brigade  led  the  army  in  pursuit  of  the  re 
treating  foe,  and  again  attacks  him  at  Lancaster,  whence  he  fled  from  Kentucky. 
In  the  mid-winter  campaign  it  opened  the  battle  at  Stone  River  by  attacking  and 
driving  the  enemy  from  Nulen.sville,  and  on  the  memorable  31st  of  December,  to 
gether  with  the  rest  of  the  20th  Army  Corps,  valiantly  met  the  attack  of  the  con 
centrated  opposing  army.  At  Liberty  Gap  and  in  the  late  battle  of  Chickamauga,  it 
performed  well  the  part  assigned  it,  and  finishes  its  honorable  career  weaker  in 
numbers,  but  strong  in  the  confidence  and  discipline  of  invincible  veterans. 

"For  the  able  and  hearty  co-operation  its  commander  has  received  from 
the  officers,  and  for  the  cheerful  support  yielded  by  its  gallant  men,  he  returns 
his  sincere  thanks.  No  petty  jealousies,  no  intrigue  or  demoralizing  influences  have 
ever  disgraced  and  paralyzed  our  efforts  for  the  country's  cause  ;  and  the  commander 
unites  in  the  just  pride  which  all  feel  in  the  history  of,  and  in  their  connection  with, 
the  1st  Brigade,  1st  Division,  20th  Army  Corps. 

"P.  SIDNEY  POST, 
"  Colonel  Commanding  Brigade." 

On  the  12th  day  of  January,  1864,  the  59th  regiment  were  re- 
mustered  as  veterans,  and  are  marshaled  among  the  hosts  who 
"  strike  till  the  last  armed  foe  expires." 

The  United  States  numbers  among  its  officers  few  as  active,  reso 
lute  and  adventurous  as  Col.  P.  Sidney  Post,  and  the  Division 
Commander,  under  whom  ho  served  for  more  than  two  years,  in 
recommending  him  for  promotion,  recounted  his  services  and  said: 
"  In  all  these  campaigns  and  battles,  Col.  Post  has  shown  himself  a 
commander  of  rare  qualifications  and  extraordinary  energy,  and  one 
of  the  best  tacticians  of  the  army.  The  evidence  of  his  skill  was 
exhibited  whenever  his  brigade  maneuvered,  whether  on  drill  or  on 
the  battle-field." 


OHAPTEE   XIII. 

PITTSBURG  LANDING— SHILOH. 

GENERAL  STATEMENTS — ILLINOIS  INTEREST  IN  THE  BATTLK — THE  NEW  REBEL  LINE- 
UNION  LINE — FORCE  AT  CORINTH— GALAXY  OF  GKXERALS — CHANGE  OF  PLAN — SA 
VANNAH — PITTSBURG  LANDING — THE  FIGHT  BEGUN — DISPOSITION  OF  OUR  FORCES — 
GENERAL  JOHNSTON'S  ADDRESS — REBEL  CORPS — SKIRMISH  OF  APRIL  2ND— RBHKL  DE 
SIGN — REBEL  ORDER  OF  BATTLE — SUNDAY  AT  HALF-PAST  FIVE — REBEL  MISTAKE — 
TERRIBLE  CHARGE — PKENTISS'  AND  SHERMAN'S  DIVISIONS — MCCLERNAND'S  WAL 
LACE'S — GRANT  AS  TO  A  SURPRISE — WALLACE  AND  HURLBUT — WALLACE  FALLS — DIS 
ASTER — A  LULL — LEW.  WALLACE  AND  BUELL — WEBSTER'S  GEMS — ANOTHER  CON 
FLICT — THE  ENEMY  STAYED — SUNDAY  NIGHT — BEADREGARD'S  REPORT — MONDAY 
MORNING — UNION  ORDER  OF  BATTLE — THE  FIGHT  OPENS — NELSON'S  ADVANCE — FER- 
RILL'S  BATTERY — ORIGINAL  GROUND  RECOVERED — BATTLE  ENDED — WHOSE  THE  VIC 
TORY? — A  MOURNING  STATE — RELIEF — THE  GOVERNOR — SANITARY  STORES — GRANT'S 
OFFICIAL  REPORT — PRENTISS'  REPORT-— LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  SHERMAN. 

THE  march  of  Western  events  leads  to  Pittsburg  Landing,  and  to 
the  month  of  April,  where  was  fought  a  sanguinary  general  en 
gagement  of  such  magnitude  and  persistence  as  to  open  the  eyes  of 
the  world.  Europe  saw,  in  a  new  light,  the  courage  and  ability  of  the 
contestants.  The  North  anew  comprehended  the  stern  and  colossal 
character  of  the  work  before  it,  the  strength  and  resources  of  the  re 
volted  States,  and  their  power  to  equip,  subsist  and  fight  great  armies. 
Anew  the  insurgents  found  the  earnestness,  the  power,  the  intelli 
gent  zeal  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States,  and  learned  that  their 
dream  of  military  superiority  in  educated  officers  arid  warlike  habits 
was  a  dream  from  which,  though  pleasant,  there  was  to  be  a  terri 
ble,  gasping,  stifling  awakening. 

In  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  Illinois  had  a  profound  interest.  The 
General  in  chief  command,  four  division  commanders,  a  large  num 
ber  of  brigade  commanders  and  thousands  of  her  gallant  sons,  not 
hirelings,  not  "  agrarian  mercenaries,"  but  the  flower  of  her  young 


THE    SITUATION.  241 

men,  were  there,  some  in  the  long  lines  of  infantry,  some  moving 
with  masses  of  cavalry,  and  others  beside  caisson  or  field-piece. 
There  were  between  thirty  and  forty  regiments  from  this  State  on 
the  field. 

The  situation  of  the  opposing  forces  on  the  1st  of  March  was  sub 
stantially  this  :  The  Confederate  line  of  defense  having  been  broken 
by  the  Federal  successes,  a  new  one  had  been  formed  by  the 
Charleston  and  Memphis  Railroad,  the  preservation  of  which  was 
deemed  a  prime  necessity  to  the  preservation  of  Northern  Missis 
sippi,  Alabama  and  Georgia.  Along  this  road  are  Tuscumbia  and. 
Florence,  at  the  foot  of  Muscle  Shoals  in  the  Tennessee  River  and 
the  junction  with  the  Florence  and  Nashville  Railroad;  Decatur, 
near  the  head  of  the  lower  Muscle  Shoals ;  Huntsville  and  Bellefon- 
tuine ;  Stevenson,  important  as  the  junction  with  the  railroad  from 
Nashville  through  Murfreesboro  and  Chattanooga,  a  strong  position.. 
All  these  points  are  east  of  Corinth.  On  the  west  of  Corinth  the 
railroad  runs  in  nearly  a  straight  line  to  Memphis,  ninety- three  miles 
distant,  and  northwest  runs  the  road  to  Jackson,  almost  in  the  cen 
ter  of  West  Tennessee. 

"  The  Union  line  was  the  Tennessee  River,  extending  from  Padu- 
cah,  Kentucky,  to  Eastport  in  Mississippi.  The  gunboats  Lexington 
and  Tyler,  by  moving  up  and  down  the  river,  prevented  the  erection 
of  batteries.  Above  Eastport,  at  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  and  at  some 
other  points,  Confederate  batteries  were  placed  to  command  the 
navigation  of  the  river." 

At  Corinth  was  encamped  a  vast  Confederate  force  with  a  galaxy 
of  able  generals — Albert  Sidney  Johnston,  Beauregard,  Bragg,  Polk, 
Pillow,  Hardee,  Crittenden  and  others.  Corinth,  then-  center,  is  at 
the  intersection  of  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  and  Memphis  and  Charleston 
railroadSj  in  Tishemingo  county,  Mississippi,  forty  miles  from  Grand 
Junction,  fifty-eight  from  Jackson,  Tenn.,  and  about  eighteen  from 
Pittsburg,  on  the  Tennessee  River. 

The  original  plan,  as  ordered  by  Gen.  Halleck,  contemplated  an 
advance  by  Buell  into  Northern  Alabama,  and  accordingly  the  divi 
sions  of  Mitchell,  Nelson  and  McCook  set  out  from  Nashville  the 
same  day  by  different  roads.  The  new  line  brought  the  rebels 
within  the  field  of  Grant's  army,  made  a  change  in  Buell' s  pro- 

16 


24:2  PATBIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

gramme,  who  was  ordered  to  turn  toward  Western  Tennessee,  cross 
the  river,  and  co-operate  with  Gen.  Grant.  This  officer's  head 
quarters  were  established  at  Savannah,  a  small  town  of  about  two 
hundred  souls,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  about  one  hundred  and 
seventy  miles  above  Fort  Henry.  Though  a  large  number  of  troops, 
brought  on  transports,  concentrated  here,  they  were  encamped  seven 
miles  above  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  a  narrow  ravine,  down  which 
the  Corinth  wagon-road  passed  to  the  river,  with  overhanging  bluffs 
on  either  side.  It  is  about  equally  distant  from  Owl  and  Snake 
creeks.  Back  from  the  river  lay  a  rolling  country,  cut  into  ravines, 
partly  under  cultivation,  but  mostly  thickly  wooded  and  covered 
with  underbrush.  A  mile  or  two  out,  the  road  forks,  one  branch 
being  the  lower  and  the  other  the  ridge  Corinth  road.  A  little  fur 
ther  out,  a  road  leading  to  the  left  crosses  Lick  Creek  and  returns 
to  the  river  at  Hamburgh  some  miles  further  up.  On  the  right,  two 
roads  lead  to  Purdy,  and  another,  more  lately  cut  out,  crosses  Snake 
Creek  and  goes  to  Crump's  Landing  on  the  river  below. 

On  the  Sabbath  morning  the  fight  began,  on  and  between  these 
roads  Grant's  divisions  were  posted.  Three  divisions  formed  the 
advance — Sherman's,  Prentiss'  and  Me  demand's.  Between  these 
and  the  Landing  were  the  divisions  of  Hurlbut  and  C.  F.  Smith,  the 
gallant  commander  of  the  latter  being  ill,  his  place  was  supplied  by 
Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace. 

The  formation  of  the  advance  line  was  as  follows :  On  the  ex 
treme  left,  near  the  Lick  creek  crossing,  commanded  by  the  bluffs 
on  the  other  side  was  Col.  D.  SheaiTs  brigade  of  Sherman's  division. 
The  remaining  brigades  of  this  division  were  three  or  four  miles 
away,  on  the  lower  Corinth  road,  and  between  that  and  the  Purdy 
road.  Those  brigades  formed  the  advance  right.  To  the  left  and 
rather  in  the  rear  of  these  brigades  was  McClernand's  division,  and 
between  it  and  Stuart's  brigade  was  Prentiss',  thus  completing  the 
front  line.  Lew.  Wallace's  division  was  at  Crump's  Landing.  It 
seems  strange  that  with  a  strong  rebel  force  known  to  be  within 
striking  distance  and  meditating  attack,  that  more  vigorous  defensive 
preparations  were  not  taken.  A  few  days'  work  would  have  covered 
the  approaches  with  impassable  abattis,  and  constructed  breastworks 
from  which  the  advancing  foe  could  have  been  swept  by  artillery. 


ADDEESS.  243 

General  Buell  left  Nashville  on  the  28th  of  March.  On  the  28th, 
U9th  and  30th,  the  divisions  of  this  army  had  crossed  Duck  River 
:i:id  advanced  through  Columbia,  82  miles  from  Savannah.  April 
3d,  the  rebel  General  commanding  issued  the  following  order: 

"  Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  tfie  Mississippi  : 

"I  have  put  you  in  motion  to  offer  battle  to  the  invaders  of  your  country,  with 
:he  resolution  and  discipline  and  valor  becoming  men,  fighting,  as  you  are,  for  all 
svorth  living  or  dying  for.  You  can  but  march  to  a  decisive  victory  over  agrarian 
nereenaries,  sent  to  subjugate  and  despoil  you  of  your  liberties,  property  and 
louor. 

"Remember  the  precious  stake  involved;  remember  the  dependence  of  your 
nothers,  your  wives,  your  sisters,  and  your  children,  on  the  result.  Remember  the 
'air,  broad,  abounding  lands,  the  happy  homes,  that  will  be  desolated  by  your  de 
feat.  The  eyes  and  hopes  of  eight  million  people  rest  upon  you.  You  are  expected 
o  show  yourselves  worthy  of  your  valor  and  courage,  worthy  of  the  women  of  the 
South,  whose  noble  devotion  in  this  war  has  never  been  exceeded  in  any  time. 
SVith  such  incentives  to  brave  deeds,  and  with  trust  that  God  is  with  us,  your 
jreneral  will  lead  you  confidently  to  the  combat,  assured  of  success. 

"By  order  of  General  A.  S.  JOHNSTON,  Commanding." 

The  rebel  army  of  the  Mississippi  was  then  divided  into  three 
irmy  corps,  and  was  commanded  as  follows : 

Commanding  General,  General  Albert  Sydney  Johnston. 
Second  in  Command,  General  P.  G.  T.  Beauregard. 
First  Army  Corps,  Lieutenant-General  L.  Polk. 
Second  Army  Corps,  Lieutenant-General  Braxton  Bragg 
Third  Army  Corps,  Lieutenant-General  W.  J.  Hardee. 
Reserves,  Major-General  G.  B.  Crittenden. 

On  the  morning  of  April  second,  the  cavalry  of  Major-General 
Lew.  Wallace,  at  Crump's  Landing  were  driven  in.  On  the  even- 
ng  of  the  fourth,  a  skirmish  occurred  between  the  advance  lines, 
3ut  the  Confederates  fell  back. 

It  was  known  to  Johnston  and  Beauregard  that  Buell  was  hasten- 
.ng  to  the  relief  of  Grant,  and  they  determined  to  crush  the  latter 
before  the  former  could  arrive.  Beauregard  says  in  his  official  re 
port  of  April  llth: 

"His  (General  Johnston's)  entire  force  hastened  in  this  direction, 
and  by  the  first  of  April  our  united  forces  were  concentrated  along 


PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad  from  Bethel  to  Corinth,  and  on  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad  from  Corinth  to  luka. 

"  It  was  then  determined  to  assume  the  offensive,  and  strike  a  sud 
den  blow  at  the  enemy  in  position  under  General  Grant  on  the 
west  bank  of  the  Tennessee  at  Pittsburg  and  in  the  direction  of 
Savannah,  before  he  was  reinforced  by  the  army  under  Gen.  Buell, 
then  known  to  be  advancing  rapidly  for  that  purpose,  by  force  1 
marches  from  Nashville,  via  Columbia,  About  the  same  time  Gen, 
Johnston  was  advised  that  such  an  operation  conformed  to  the  ex 
pectations  of  the  President. 

"  By  a  rapid  and  vigorous  attack  on  Gen.  Grant,  it  was  expected 
he  would  be  beaten  back  into  his  transports  and  the  river,  or  cap 
tured  in  time  to  enable  us  to  profit  by  the  victory  and  remove  to  the 
rear  all  the  stores  and  munitions  that  would  fall  into  our  hands  in 
such  an  event,  before  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Buell  on  the  scene.  It 
was  never  contemplated,  however,  to  retain  the  position  thus 
gained,  and  abandon  Corinth,  the  strategic  point  of  the  campaign." 

It  was  surely  a  Providential  interposition  which  prevented  the 
earlier  accomplishment  of  this  plan,  for,  moving  on  interior  lines  of 
railway,  the  enemy  had  massed  a  force  vastly  superior  to  that,  under 
General  Grant.  Beauregard  complains  in  his  report,  of  delays  for 
want  of  officers,  proper  organization  of  brigades  and  other  difficul 
ties,  so  that  they  were  not  fully  ready,  when,  on  the  evening  of  the 
2d,  they  ascertained  that  Buell  was  dangerously  near  with  his  forces 
and  orders  were  issued  at  1  o'clock,  A.  M.,  for  an  immediate  advance. 
But  the  "chariot  wheels  drave  heavily"  and  he  regrets  that  the 
"  troops  did  not  reach  the  intersection  of  the  roads  from  Pittsburg 
and  Hamburg  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  enemy,  until  late 
Saturday  night."  The  rebel  order  of  battle  is  thus  stated  by  Gen. 
Beauregard : 

"It  was  then  decided  that  the  attack  should  be  made  on  the  next 
morning,  at  the  earliest  hour  practicable,  in  accordance  with  the 
laws  of  movement — that  is,  in  three  lines  of  battle  :  the  first  and 
second  extending  from  Owl  Creek  on  the  left,  to  Lick  Creek  on  the 
right — a  distance  of  about  three  miles — supported  by  the  third 
and  the  reserve.  The  first  line,  under  Major-General  Ilardee, 
was  constituted  of  his  corps,  augmented  on  his  right  by  Gladden's 


THE  FIKST    CHARGE.  24:5 

brigade  of  Major-General  Bragg' s  corps,  deployed  in  line  of  battle, 
with  their  respective  artillery,  following  immediately  by  the  main 
road  to  Pittsburg,  and  the  cavalry  in  the  rear  of  the  wings.  The 
second  line,  composed  of  the  other  troops  of  Bragg"1  s  corps,  fol 
lowed,  the  first  at  a  distance  of  five  hundred  yards,  in  the  same 
order  as  the  first.  The  army  corps  under  General  Polk  followed  the 
second  line,  at  the  distance  of  about  eight  hundred  yards,  in  lines 
of  brigades  deployed  with  their  batteries,  in  rear  of  each  brigade, 
moving  by  the  Pittsburg  road,  the  left  wing  supported  by  cavalry; 
the  reserve  under  General  Breckinridge  followed  closely  the  third 
line  in  the  s-ame  order,  its  right  wing  supported  by  cavalry. 

"  These  two  corps  constituted  the  reserve,  and  were  to  support 
the  front  lines  of  battle,  by  being  deployed,  when  required,  on  the 
right  and  left  of  the  Pittsburg  road,  or  otherwise  act  according  to 
the  exigences  of  the  battle." 

At  half-past  five  on  Sunday  morning,  this  tremendous  force  of  in 
fantry,  cavalry  and  field  artillery  was  in  motion,  intending  to  bear 
down  all  opposition  and  drive  Grant  into  the  river.  The  design  was 
to  attack  the  center,  composed  of  Prentiss'  and  McClernand's 
divisions,  pierce  it,  pour  in  their  troops,  and  attack  on  each  side  the 
wings  of  our  divided  army.  Here  again  was  a  Providential  de 
rangement  of  wisely  laid  plans.  They  should  have  hurled  their  ad 
vancing  columns  against  Sherman's  three  brigades  on  our  right,  and 
the  left  of  McClernand's.  By  some  miscalculation  they  assailed 
only  Sherman's  left,  and  that  not  until  after  their  right  had  struck 
Prentiss'  division. 

As  it  was,  that  first  charge  was  lamentably  disastrous.  It  came 
like  an  avalanche,  driving  in  the  pickets  of  Prentiss'  division  and 
reaching  the  camp  almost  as  soon  as  the  sentinels.  A  little  later  and 
the  same  was  the  case  with  Hildebrand's  brigade,  of  Sherman's  divis 
ion.  The  men  of  this  brigade  fell  back,  firing  as  they  retreated,  and 
checked  the  foe  long  enough  to  form  an  imperfect  line  of  battle. 
The  other  two  brigades  came  up  on  the  right  to  their  help,  and  not 
a  moment  too  soon,  for  at  once  the  enemy  opened  the  battle  along 
Sherman's  entire  line.  Hildebrand's  brigade  fell  back ;  part  of  it, 
raw  troops,  fled — no  wonder; — they  lived  long  enough  to  gloriously 
redeem  the  escutcheon  of  Ohio  from  that  bar  sinister.  McCler- 


246  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

nand  threw  forward  his  troops  to  support  Hildebrand's  brigade, 
Sherman  put  forth  exertions  almost  superhuman  to  rally  his  men  and 
save  his  division.  For  a  time  Buckland's  and  McDowell's  brigade 
stood  as  adamant,  when  they  were  compelled  to  give  way,  and 
retire  from  their  camps  behind  a  small  ravine,  when  again 
they  made  a  gallant  stand.  McClernand's  division  of  tried  men, 
took  the  place  of  Hildebrand's  brigade  and  essayed  to  check  the 
rebel  advance. 

Prentiss'  division  did  as  well  as  it  could,  but  their  line  when 
formed,  was  in  an  open  space,  while  their  foe  was  sheltered  by  the 
dense  scrub-growth  from  which  he  directed  murderous  volleys 
almost  out  of  danger.  The  Union  men  fought  doggedly,  bravely, 
obstinately,  but  they  were  not  made  of  steel.  The  enemy  poured 
his  fire  on  either  flank,  and  right  on  in  front  came  a  line  of  leveled 
steel — they  were  compelled  to  fall  back.  And  yet  they  fought  and 
seemed  at  one  time  about  to  be  saved.  McArthur,  of  W.  II.  L. 
Wallace's  division,  came  up  to  the  relief  of  Stuart's  brigade  of 
Sherman's  division,  and  by  mistake  verged  too  far  to  the  right  and 
came  up  on  the  other  side  of  the  rebels  assailing  Prentiss.  His  men. 
at  once  opened  fire  upon  the  foe  and  hope  arose  among  our  imper 
iled  men.  But  McArthur  could  not  hold  his  position,  and  was 
compelled  to  fall  back,  the  enemy  opening  a  flanking  fire  011  him. 
By  ten  o'clock  the  division  of  Prentiss  had  been  destroyed  or  cap 
tured,  and  the  General  with  three  regiments  was  in  the  hands  of  an 
exultant  foe.  The  front  line  was  pierced,  and  only  Me  Arthur's 
brigade  and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  division  checked  the  overwhelm 
ing  advance. 

Grant  was  at  Savannah,  his  head-quarters,  when  the  fight  com 
menced,  and  hurried  to  the  field  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  until  his 
arrival  there  was  no  General-in-chief,  but  .each  division  commander 
fought  according  to  his  own  judgment.  Much  angry  critic-ism  was 
for  a  time  heaped  upon  him  for  this  absence,  and  for  suffering  a  sur 
prise.  His  own  answer  was,  "  As  to  the  talk  of  our  being  surprised, 
nothing  could  be  more  false.  If  the  enemy  had  sent  us  word  where 
and  when  they  would  attack,  we  could  not  have  been  better  pre 
pared.  Skirmishing  had  been  going  on  for  two  days  between  our 
reconnoitering  parties  and  the  enemy's  advance.  I  did  not  believe, 


THE    BATTLE.  247 

however,  that  they  intended  to  make  a  determined  attack,  but  meant 
simply  to  make  a  reconnoissancc  in  force.  My  head-quarters  were  at 
Savannah,  though  I  usually  spent  the  day  at  Pittsburg.  Troops 
were  constantly  arriving  to  be  assigned  to  the  different  brigades  and 
divisions.  All  were  ordered  to  report  at  Savannah,  making  it 
necessary  to  keep  an  office  and  some  one  there.  I  was  also  looking 
for  Buell  to  arrive,  and  it  was  important  that  I  should  have  every 
arrangement  complete  for  his  crossing  and  transit  to  this  side  of  the 


Yet  with  the  facts  of  the  Sunday  morning  charge  on  the  left  and 
center,  it  surely  is  hardly  supposable  that,  if  our  forces  had  known 
the  time  and  place  of  the  attack,  they  would  not  have  been  better 
prepared  for  the  onset ! 

Hurlbut  and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  stood  between  the  army  and  de 
struction — stood  like  ocean-beat  rocks.  McArthur  was  reinforced, 
and  the  space  on  the  left  made  vacant  by  the  defeat  and  capture 
of  Prentiss  was  filled.  The  combat  raged  with  fury.  Never  men 
fought  more  bravely.  Regiments  but  a  few  months  from  home,  and 
in  the  first  battle,  fought  with  the  coolness  of  battle-stained  veterans, 

"  By  the  early  breaking  of  Gen.  Prentiss's  line,  the  onset  of  the 
Confederates  had  been  made  to  veer  chiefly  to  the  Union  left.  Here 
the  contest  continued  stubborn.  Four  times  the  Confederates  at 
tempted  to  charge  on  Gen.  Wallace's  men.  Each  time  the  infantry 
poured  in  rapid  volleys,  and  the  artillery  redoubled  their  efforts. 
thus  compelling  them  to  retreat  with  heavy  slaughter.  Farther  to 
the  right,  Gen.  Hurlbut' s  division,  which  had  taken  an  advanced 
position,  was  compelled  to  fall  back  through  its  camp  to  a  thick 
Avood  behind.  Here,  with  open  fields  before  them,  they  could  rake 
the  approach  of  the  Confederates.  Three  times  their  heavy  masses 
bravely  charged  upon  the  division,  and  each  time  they  were  repulsed 
with  severe  loss.  The  troops  from  the  driven  divisions  were  reor 
ganized  so  far  as  available,  and  re-sent  to  the  field.  Thus  the  right 
of  Gen.  Hurlbut,  which  was  almost  wholly  unprotected,  and  the 
weakness  of  which  does  not  appear  to  have  been  discovered  by  the 
Confederates,  was  in  a  measure  patched  out.  It  had  been  pre 
viously  determined  that  in  case  of  an  attack  at  Pittsburg  Landing, 
the  division  under  Gen.  Lew.  Wallace  at  Crump's  Landing,  five  miles 


248  PATRIOTISM    OF  ILLIXOIS. 

below,  should  come  up  on  the  right  and  flank  the  enemy.  But  no 
message  was  sent  to  this  division  until  nearly  noon,  and  it  missed 
the  way  on  coming  up,  and  did  not  arrive  until  near  night.  Th  >  di 
vision  of  Gen.  Huiibut  at  length  became  exhausted,  and  fell  back  out 
of  sight  of  their  camps  to  a  point  within  a  mile  of  the  Landing.  In 
consequence  of  losing  his  support,  the  division  of  Gen.  W.  II.  L. 
Wallace,  thus  in  isolated  advance,  was  compelled  to  fall  back,  the 
last  to  leave  the  field.  Just  at  this  moment,  its  brave  commander 
was  mortally  wounded. 

"It  was  now  half  past  four  o'clock.  The  front  line  of  the  divis 
ions  had  been  lost  since  eleven  o'clock,  and  the  reserve  line  was 
gone  too.  The  Confederates  occupied  the  camps  of  every  division 
except  Smith's,  commanded  during  his  sickness  by  Gen.  Wallace, 
who  had  just  been  wounded.  The  whole  army  was  crowded  in  the 
region  of  Wallace's  camp,  and  to  a  circuit  of  one  half  to  t\vo  thirds 
of  a  mile  around  the  Landing.  The  next  repulse  would  put  it  into 
the  river,  and  there  were  not  transports  enough  to  cross  a  single 
division  before  the  enemy  would  be  upon  them.  Nearly  half  the 
field  artillery  was  lost,  nearly  all  the  camps  and  camp  equipage. 
Prisoners  had  been  taken  in  great  numbers. 

"  At  this  time  a  lull  took  place  in  the  firing,  the  first  which  had 
occurred  since  sunrise.  It  was  thought  that  the  enemy  were  either 
preparing  for  the  grand  final  rush  that  was  to  crown  the  day's  suc 
cess,  or  that  they  were  puzzled  by  the  last  retreat,  and  were  moving 
cautiously.  These  few  minutes  were  golden  ones  for  that  driven 
and  defeated  army,  and  they  were  improved.  Col.  Webster,  chief 
of  staff,  arranged  the  guns  which  he  could  collect  of  those  that 
remained,  in  a  sort  of  semicircle  to  protect  the  Union  center  and 
left,  upon  which  it  was  thought  the  enemy  were  now  sure  to  ad 
vance.  Corps  of  artillerists  to  man  them  were  gathered  from  all 
the  batteries.  Twenty-two  guns  were  thus  placed  in  position,  two 
of  which  were  long  32's.  In  front  was  a  victorious  enemy;  behind 
were  the  remnants  of  the  repulsed  divisions  of  the  army  driven 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  Landing,  beyond  which  was  a  deep  and 
rapid  river.  Gen.  Wallace's  division  at  Crump's  Landing  had  not 
been  heard  from.  Across  the  river  now  was  seen  the  first  glitter  of 
the  advance  of  Gen.  Buell,  but  it  could  not  be  brought  over  in  time 


HELD    AT    BAY.  249 

to  do  much  good.  Suddenly  a  broad  flash  of  light  leaped  out  from 
the  darkening  woods,  and  the  whistling  leaden  hail  swiftly  followed. 
The  enemy  were  about  to  make  their  crowning  effort  for  the  day. 
Instantly  the  artillery  replied,  and  as  they  appoached  nearer,  the 
infantry  tired  volley  after  volley.  At  this  time  the  gunboats,  Lex 
ington  and  Tyler,  approached  the  mouth  of  Lick  Creek,  and  were 
able  with  their  guns  to  reach  the  field  occupied  by  the  Confederates 
near  the  river.  This  was  a  fire  in  their  flank,  which  disconcerted 
their  plans.  Amid  this  terrible  conflict  darkness  came  on.  The 
enemy  had  been  held  at  bay. 

"  Meantime  Gen.  Lew.  Wallace  had  arrived  with  his  division,  and 
Gen.  Buell  with  his  forces,  a  portion  of  which  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
the  afternoon,  audit  was  decided,  after  the  sounds  of  battle  had  ceased, 
to  attack  the  Confederates  as  soon  as  .possible  after  daybreak.  Gen. 
Wallace's  division  was  to  take  the  right  and  sweep  back  toward 
the  position  from  which  Gen.  Sherman  had  been  driven  during  the 
morning,  and  Gen.  Nelson  was  to  take  the  extreme  left.  Gen. 
Crittenden  w^as  to  take  a  position  during  the  night  next  to  Gen. 
Nelson,  and  Gen.  McCook  with  his  division  next  to  Crittenden. 
The  space  between  Gens.  McCook  and  Wallace  was  to  be  filled 
with  the  reorganized  divisions  of  Gen.  Grant's  army.  Stealthily 
the  troops  crept  to  their  new  positions,  and  lay  down  in  line  of  bat 
tle  on  their  arms.  All  through  the  night,  Gen.  Buell's  men  were 
marching  up  from  Savannah  to  the  point  opposite  Pittsburg  Land 
ing,  and  were  ferried  across,  or  were  coming  up  on  transports.  At 
nine  o'clock,  the  gunboats  commenced  a  cannonade  of  the  Confed 
erate  position,  which  was  kept  up  all  night.  It  produced  little  or  no 
eifect. 

"Gen.  Beauregard  thus  reported  his  position  on  Sunday  night: 
{At  six  o'clock  r.  M.,  we  were  in  possession  of  all  the  encampments 
between  Owl  and  Lick  creeks  but  one.  Nearly  all  of  his  field  artil 
lery,  about  thirty  flags,  colors,  and  standards,  over  three  thousand 
prisoners,  including  a  division  commander  (Gen.  Prentiss)  and 
several  brigade  commanders,  thousands  of  small  arms,  an  im 
mense  supply  of  subsistence,  forage,  and  munitions  of  war,  and  a 
large  amount  of  means  of  transportation — all  the  substantial  fruits 
of  a  complete  victory — such  indeed  as  rarely  have  followed  the 


250  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

most  successful  battles ;  for  never  was  an  army  so  well  provided  as 
that  of  our  enemy. 

"  '  The  remnant  of  his  army  had  been  driven  in  utter  disorder  to 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Pittsburg,  under  the  shelter  of  the  heavy 
guns  of  his  iron-clad  gunboats,  and  we  remained  undisputed  masters 
of  his  well-selected,  admirably  provided  cantonments,  after  over 
twelve  hours  of  obstinate  conflict  with  his  forces,  who  had  been 
beaten  from  them  and  the  contiguous  covert,  but  only  by  a  sustained 
onset  of  all  the  men  we  could  bring  into  action.' 

"  The  Federal  forces  arranged  for  the  battle  of  the  next  day 
were  the  divisions  of  Gens.  Nelson,  Crittenden,  McCook,  Hurlbut, 
McClernand  and  Sherman,  including  in  the  three  latter  the  shattered 
and  disorganized  commands  of  Prentiss  and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace, 
which  were  without  commanders,  and  the  fresh  division  of  Gen.  Lew. 
Wallace.  These  divisions  were  arranged  in  the  order  above  named, 
beginning  on  the  left.  The  change  produced  in  the  position  of  the 
Confederate  forces,  by  the  shells  of  the  gunboats  during  the  night, 
prevented  them  from  opening  the  battle  at  daylight. 

"At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Gen.  Nelson,  on  the  extreme 
left  formed  his  line  of  battle,  and  advanced  with  skirmishers  thrown 
out,  for  nearly  a  mile  before  meeting  the  enemy  in  force.  They  im 
mediately  became  engaged.  There  was  no  straggling,  as  upon  the 
previous  day.  Gen.  Nelson  slowly  but  steadily  advanced,  pushing 
the  exhausted  enemy  before  him  until  half  past  ten,  when,  under 
cover  of  the  timber  and  a  furious  cannonading,  they  made  a  general 
rally.  Suddenly  the  masses  of  the  enemy  were  hurled  with  tremen 
dous  force  against  the  Federal  lines,  which  now  halted,  wavered, 
and  fell  back.  At  this  moment  Ten-ill's  battery  of  24-pounder 
howitzers  rushed  up,  and  in  a  few  minutes  was  unlimbered  and  firing 
into  the  compact  and  advancing  ranks  of  the  enemy.  Here  was  the 
turning  point  of  the  battle  on  the  left.  The  enemy  were  only 
checked,  not  halted ;  then  followed  for  two  hours  a  contest  of  artil 
lery  and  musketry  at  short  range.  The  enemy  began  to  waver, 
when  Gen.  Buell  coming  up,  saw  at  a  glance  the  chance,  and  or 
dered  a  charge  by  brigades,  at  '  double  quick.'  The  Confederates 
fell  back  for  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  became  more  confused,  and  at  half 
past  two  that  point  of  the  field  was  cleared.  The  next  divisions,  of 


THE    BATTLE   ENDED.  251 

Gens.  Crittenden  and  Me  Cook,  after  an  obstinate  struggle,  were 
equally  successful.  The  divisions  of  Gens.  McClernand  and  Hurl- 
but,  nothing  daunted  by  the  reverses  of  the  preceding  day,  fought 
with  much  bravery.  On  the  right  the  contest  was  more  severe,  and 
longer  continued.  A  design  was  manifested  by  the  enemy  to  turn 
the  flank  of  Gen.  Wallace's  division.  This  was  thwarted,  and  the 
enemy  steadily  driven  back  until  four  P.  M.,  when  a  general  retreat 
took  place  on  the  right.  Thus  the  original  plan  of  the  enemy  was 
frustrated. 

"  On  the  retreat  of  the  Confederate  army,  the  original  ground, 
and  even  the  tents  of  Gen.  Grant's  army,  were  recovered.  No 
regular  pursuit  was  attempted  until  the  next  day.  The  number  of 
the  Federal  army  engaged  on  Sunday,  was  estimated  by  General 
Beauregard  at  five  divisions  of  nine  thousand  men  each,  or  forty- 
five  thousand  men.  The  reinforcements  of  Sunday  night  were 
estimated  by  him  at  twenty-five  thousand  from  Gen.  Buell's  army, 
and  eight  thousand  under  Gen.  Wallace,  and  the  entire  force  on 
Monday  fifty-three  thousand.  This  estimate  slightly  exceeds  the 
Federal  force  engaged,  especially  in  the  number  of  reinforcements 
furnished  by  Gen.  Buell.  On  the  other  hand,  the  Confederate  force 
was  estimated  at  sixty  thousand  by  the  Union  officers,  which  was 
undoubtedly  an  overestimate.  Gen.  Grant  had  a  force  somewhat 
less  than  the  enemy  on  Sunday,  but  on  Monday  he  outnumbered 
them.  No  official  statement  of  numbers  has  been  afforded  on  either 
side.  The  Federal  loss  was  1,735  killed,  7,882  wounded,  and  3,956 
taken  prisoners.  Total,  13,573.  The  Confederate  loss  was,  killed 
1,728,  wounded  8,012,  missing  959.  Total,  10,699." 

So  began,  raged  and  terminated  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Land 
ing  or  Shiloh.  It  was  terrible  in  the  determination  and  persistency 
of  the  struggles  and  in  the  loss  of  life.  And  when  ended  was  it 
victory  or  defeat?  Each  General  commanding  claimed  victory,  but 
a  few  simple  facts  settle  the  case. 

I.  The  purpose  of  the  enemy  was  defeated.  General  Beauregard 
states  that  purpose.  It  was  to  fall  on  Grant  before  the  arrival  of 
Buell,  cut  off  his  forces  from  those  of  Lew  Wallace  at  Crump's 
Landing,  and  drive  him  into  the  river  or  capture  him.  That  Sunday 
morning  not  less  than  sixty  thousand  Confederates  assailed  Grant's 


PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

forty  thousand  and  fought  through  the  day.  They  did  their  "best. 
They  strained  every  nerve.  Well  officered,  they  fought  with  des 
peration  and  failed.  Night  came  on,  and  found  our  forces  driven 
from  their  camps,  and  Prentiss's  division  beaten  and  prisoners  ;  but 
they  had  stayed  the  columns  of  Johnson  and  Beauregard,  and 
without  Ihiell,  had  prevented  the  accomplishment  of  the  purpose  of 
the  foe,  and  were  stronger  by  the  addition  of  Lew  Wallace's  divi- 
'  sion  than  earlier  in  the  day. 

II.  The  second  day's  battle  was  splendidly  fought.     There  was  a 
masterly  battle  plan  and  well  was  it  carried  out,  and  steadily  back 
ward  was  pushed  the  rebel  column,  until  compelled  to  retreat  from 
the  field  it  came  from  Corinth  to   win,  and   the   Union  forces    held 
their  original  lines  and  rescued  their  camps.     There  was  a  general 
rebel  retreat  and  Federal  pursuit  until  the  weary  men  were  recalled. 

III.  General  Beauregard  in  his  note  to   General   Grant  conceded 
that  his  "  forces  were  exhausted  by  the  extraordinary  length  of  time 
in  which  they  were  engaged  "  and  that  he  felt  it  his   duty   to   with 
draw  from  the  immediate  scene  of  conflict  and  asked  leave  to  send 
a  party  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  bury  their  dead. 

IV.  Thus  in  every  direction  the  tests   of  victory  were  with  the 
Federal  troops,  they  had  fought  and  they  had  won,   and  a  discom 
fited  foe  fell  back  to  his"  trenches  at  Corinth,  to  organize,  in  watered 
dispatches,  the  victory  he  could  not  win  with  his  divisions. 

But  the  victory  threw  our  State  into  mourning.  Prentiss  and  his 
brave  men  were  in  captivity,  and  were  exhibited,  rather  as  captured 
animals,  than  as  brave  soldiers  who  had  fallen  by  adverse  fortune 
into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  on  the  field.  They  were  subjected  to 
taunt,  scoff,  insult  and  aggravated  material  misery  at  the  hands  "  of 
a  brave  and  chivalric  people." 

Brigadier-General  W.  II.  L.  Wallace  with  other  gallant  officers 
and  a  host  of  brave  men  from  the  homes  of  Illinois  were  slain  or 
wounded. 

Governor  Yates  proceeded  in  person  to  the  field  and  cared  for  the 
wounded,  working  with  tireless  zeal.  The  Sanitary  Commission  sent 
forward  vast  stores  of  clothing,  bandages,  delicacies  and  nourishing 
food,  while  surgeons  and  nurses  volunteered  their  services  until  there 
was  no  need  of  them. 

It  were  worth  living  a  hundred  years  through  poverty  and  sorrow 


GRANT'S  REPORT.  253 

to  witness  the  zeal  and  unselfish  devotion  of  the  people  at  that  hour ! 
It  was  manifested  in  gifts,  in  personal  service  and  in  the  united  de 
mand  upon  the  government  to  go  steadily  forward  until  rebellion 
should  be  destroyed !  Money  for  the  wounded  was  lavished  like 
water. 

Governor  Yates  won  anew  the  love  of  his  constituency  and  the 
devoted  gratitude  of  the  soldier  by  his  activity.  He  made  his  calls 
from  the  press  and  then  in  person  saw  to  the  care  of  the  Illinois 
wounded,  himself  performing  the  menial  offices  of  nurse.  Returning 
to  Springfield,  he  dispatched  the  Adjutant- General  with  arms  and 
clothing,  and  again,  hearing  the  wounded  were  still  suffering,  he 
took  another  corps  of  surgeons  and  supply  of  sanitary  stores  and 
ascended  the  Tennessee.  As  far  anc1  fast  as  possible  his  agents 
secured  transportation  for  the  wounded  to  their  houses  and  to 
Northern  hospitals. 

GENERAL  GRANT'S  REPORT. 

"Major- General  HdlecJc: 

"It  becomes  my  duty  again  to  report  another  battle  fought  between  two  great 
armies,  one  contending  for  the  maintenance  of  the  best  government  ever  devisedr 
the  other  for  its  destruction.  It  is  pleasant  to  record  the  success  of  the  army  con 
tending  for  the  former  principle. 

"  On  Sunday  morning  our  pickets  were  driven  in  by  the  enemy.  Immediately 
the  five  divisions  stationed  at  this  place  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle,  ready  to 
meet  them.  The  battle  soon  waxed  warm  on  the  left  and  center,  varying  at  times 
to  all  parts  of  the  line. 

"The  most  continuous  firing  of  musketry  and  artillery  ever  heard  on  the  conti 
nent  wus  kept  up  until  nightfall,  the  enemy  having  forced  the  entire  line  to  fall  back 
nearly  half  way  from  their  camps  to  the  landing.  At  a  late  hour  in  the  afternoon,  a 
desperate  effort  was  made  by  the  enemy  to  turn  our  left,  and  get  possession  of  the 
landing,  transports,  etc.  This  point  was  guarded  by  the  gunboats  Tyler  and  Lexing 
ton,  Captains  Gwinn  and  Shirk,  U.  S.  X.,  commanding,  four  29-pounder  Parrott 
guns,  antl  a  battery  of  rifled  guns.  As  there  is  a  deep  and  impassable  ravine  for 
artillery  or  cavalry,  and  very  difficult  for  infantry,  at  this  point,  no  troops  were 
stationed  here  except  the  necessary  artillerists,  and  a  small  infantry  force  for  their 
support.  Just  at  this  moment  the  advance  of  Major-General  Buell's  column  (a  part 
of  the  division  of  General  Nelson)  arrived,  the  two  Generals  named  both  being 
present.  An  advance  was  immediately  made  upon  the  point  of  attack,  and  the 
enemy  soon  driven  back.  In  this  repulse,  much  is  due  to  the  presence  of  the  gun 
boats  Tyler  and  Lexington,  and  their  able  commanders,  Captains  Gwinn  and  Shirk. 
During  the  night,  the  divisions  under  Generals  Crittenden  and  McCook  arrived. 


254:  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

"  Gen.  Lew.  Wallace,  at  Crump's  Landing,  six  miles  below,  was  ordered  at  an 
early  hour  in  the  morning  to  hold  his  division  in  readiness  to  move  in  any  direction 
to  which  it  might  be  ordered.  At  about  11  o'clock  the  order  was  delivered  to  move 
it  up  to  Pittsburg,  but  owing  to  its  being  led  by  a  circuitous  route,  did  not  arrive 
in  time  to  take  part  in  Sunday's  action.  During  the  night  all  was  quiet,  and  feeling 
that  a  great  moral  advantage  would  be  gained  by  becoming  the  attacking  party,  an 
advance  was  ordered  as  soon  as  day  dawned.  The  result  was  a  gradual  repulse  of 
the  enemy  at  all  points  of  the  line,  from  morning  until  probably  5  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  when  it  became  evident  the  enemy  was  retreating. 

"Before  the  close  of  the  action,  the  advance  of  Gen.  T.  J.  Wood's  division 
arrived,  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  action.  My  force  was  too  much  fatigued  from 
two  days'  hard  fighting,  and  exposed  in  the  open  air  to  a  drenching  rain  during  the 
intervening  night,  to  pursue  immediately.  Night  closed  in  cloudy  and  with  heavy 
rain,  making  the  roads  impracticable  for  artillery  by  the  next  morning.  General 
Sherman,  however,  followed  the  enemy,  finding  that  the  main  part  of  the  army  had 
retreated  in  good  order.  Hospitals  of  the  enemy's  wounded  were  found  all  along 
the  road,  as  far  as  pursuit  was  made.  Dead  bodies  of  the  enemy  and  many  graves 
were  also  found.  I  enclose  herewith  the  report  of  General  Sherman,  which  will 
explain  more  fully  the  result  of  the  pursuit.  Of  the  part  taken  by  eacli  separate 
command,  I  cannot  take  special  notice  in  this  report,  but  will  do  so  more  fully  when 
reports  of  division  commanders  are  handed  in. 

"  General  Buell,  coming  on  the  field  with  a  distinct  army,  long  under  his  com- 
mand,  and  which  did  such  efficient  service,  commanded  by  himself  in  person  on  the 
field,  will  be  mucl:  better  able  to  notice  those  of  his  command  who  particularly 
distinguished  themselves,  than  I  possibly  can. 

"I  feel  it  a  duty,  however,  to  a  gallant  and  able  officer,  Brigadier-General  W.  T> 
Sherman,  to  make  a  special  mention.  He  not  only  was  with  his  command  during 
the  entire  of  the  two  days'  action,  but  displayed  great  judgment  and  skill  in  the 
management  of  his  men.  Although  severely  wounded  in  the  hand  the  first  day,  his 
place  was  never  vacant.  He  was  again  wounded,  and  had  three  horses  killed  under 
him. 

"  In  making  this  mention  of  a  gallant  officer,  no  disparagement  is  intended  to  the 
other  division  commanders,  Major-Generals  John  A.  McClernand  and  Lew.  Wallace, 
and  Brigadier-Generals  S.  A.  Hurlbut,  B.  M.  Prentisa  and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  all  of 
whom  maintained  their  places  with  credit  to  themselves  and  the  cause. 

"  Gen.  Prentiss  was  taken  prisoner  in  the  first  day's  action,  and  Gen.  W.  H.  L» 
Wallace  severely,  probably  mortally,  wounded.  His  Assistant  Adjutant-General, 
Captain  William  McMichael,  is  missing — probably  taken  prisoner. 

"  My  personal  staff  are  all  deserving  of  particular  mention,  they  having  been  en 
gaged  during  the  entire  two  days  in  carrying  orders  to  every  part  of  the  field.  It 
consists  of  Col.  J.  D.  Webster,  chief  of  Staff;  Lieut. -Col.  J.  B.  McPherson,  chief- 
engineer;  assisted  by  Lieutenants  W.  L.  B.  Jenny  and  Wm.  Kossac,  Capt.  J.  A, 
Rawlings,  A.  A.-General,  W.  S.  Hillyer,  W.  R.  Rawley  and  C,  B.  Lagow,  aids-de- 


GBANT'S  REPORT.  255 

camp,  Col.  G.  G.  Pride,  volunteer  aid,  and  Capt.  J.  P.  Hawkins,  chief  commissary, 
who  accompanied  me  upon  the  field. 

"The  medical  department,  under  direction  of  Surgeon  Hewitt,  medical  director, 
showed  great  energy  in  providing  for  the  wounded,  and  in  getting  them  from  the 
field,  regardless  of  danger. 

"  Col.  Webster  was  placed  in  special  charge  of  all  the  artillery,  and  was  con 
stantly  upon  the  field.  He  displayed,  as  always  heretofore,  both  skill  and  bravery. 
At  least  in  one  instance  he  was  the  means  of  placing  an  entire  regiment  in  a  position 
of  doing  most  valuable  service,  and  where  it  would  not  have  been  but  for  his  ex 
ertions. 

"  Lieut. -Col.  McPherson,  attached  to  my  staff  as  chief  of  engineers,  deserves  more 
than  a  passing  notice  for  his  activity  and  courage.  The  grounds  beyond  our  camps 
for  miles  have  been  reconnoitered  by  him,  and  plats  carefully  prepared  under  hia 
supervision,  giving  accurate  information  of  the  nature  of  approaches  to  our  lines. 
During  the  two  days'  battle  he  was  constantly  in  the  saddle,  leading  troops  as  they 
arrived  to  points  where  their  services  were  required.  During  the  engagement  he 
had  one  horse  shot  under  him. 

"  The  country  will  have  to  mourn  the  loss  of  many  brave  men  who  fell  at  the 
battle  of  Pittsburg,  or  Shiloh,  more  properly.  The  exact  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded  will  be  known  in  a  day  or  two ;  at  present  I  can  only  give  it  approximately 
at  1,500  killed  and  3,500  wounded. 

"  The  loss  of  artillery  was  great,  many  pieces  being  disabled  by  the  enemy's 
shots,  and  some  losing  all  their  horses  and  many  men.  There  were  probably  not 
less  than  two  hundred  horses  killed. 

"  The  loss  of  the  enemy,  in  killed  and  left  upon  the  field,  was  greater  than  ours. 
In  wounded,  the  estimate  cannot  be  made,  as  many  of  them  must  have  been  sent  to 
Corinth  and  other  points.  U.  S.  GRANT,  Major-General." 

After  his  return  from  captivity  General  Prentiss  published  his 
official  report  which  claims  that  all  the  ordinary  and  some  extraor 
dinary  means  were  employed  to  guard  against  surprise.  He  says : 

"  Saturday  evening,  pursuant  to  instructions,  received  when  I  was 
assigned  to  duty,  the  usual  advanced  guard  was 

posted,  and  in  view  of  information  received  from  the  commandant 
thereof,  I  sent  forward  five  companies  of  the  21st  Mo.  Infantry, 
under  command  of  Col.  David  Moore.  I  also,  after  consultation 
with  Col.  David  Stuart,  commanding  a  brigade  of  Gen.  Sherman's 
division  sent  to  the  left  one  company  of  the  18th  Wisconsin,  under 
command  of  Capt.  Fiske.  At  about  7  o'clock  the  same  evening 
Col.  Moore  returned  and  reported  some  activity  in  front — an  evi 
dent  reconnoissance  by  cavalry. 


PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

"This  information  received,  I  proceeded  to  strengthen  the  guard 
stationed  on  the  Corinth  road,  extending  the  picket  to  the  fro  it,  a 
distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half,  at  the  same  time  extending  and  doub 
ling  the  lines  of  the  grand  guard. 

"At  3  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  April  sixth,  Colonel 
David  Moore  with  five  companies  of  his  infantry  regimen-t,  pro- 
ceeded  to  the  front  and  at  break  of  day  the  advance  pickets  were 
driven  in,  whereupon  Colonel  Moore  pushed  forward  and  engaged 
the  enemy's  advance,  commanded  by  General  Hardee.  At  thi* 
stage  a  message  was  sent  to  my  head-quarters  calling  for  the  bal 
ance  of  the  21st  Mo.  which  was  promptly  sent  forward." 

It  seems  therefore  that  in  addition  to  ordinary  vigilance,  extraor 
dinary  precaution  had  been  employed,  and  at  3  o'clock,  two  hours 
and  a  half  before  the  onset  of  the  foe,  a  detachment  of  the.1  21st 
Mo.  had  been  sent  out  to  the  front,  which  met  and  gallantly  en 
gaged  the  rebel  advance. 

Thus  one  by  one  disappear  the  adverse  criticisms  upon  the  Com 
manding  Generals.  They  were  not  careless,  or  reckless.  It  is  true 
the  whole  army  might  have  been  kept  up  and  under  arms  on  Satur 
day  night;  and  then  they  might  have  moved  out  a  few  miles  and 
met  Johnston  and  Beauregard,  and  fought  the  battle  on  a  different 
plan,  but  then  the  best  military  authorities  recognize  the  right  of  a 
soldier  to  sleep  occasionally,  and  consider  the  posting  of  a  sufficient 
picket  force  as  a  competent  security  against  surprise.  What  that 
force  was,  General  Prentiss  states  in  his  report. 

Barely  in  time  for  insertion  at  this  point  comes  the  annexed  letter 
from  Major-General  W.  T.  Sherman,  the  hero  of  Atlanta  and  Sa 
vannah.  It  is  written  with  all  the  benefit  of  his  mature  military 
experience  and  is  entitled  to  great  consideration.  His  authority 
relieves  General  Grant  of  no  small  amount  of  the  criticism  heaped 
upon  him  for  the  selection  of  the  battle  ground.  It  also,  whib  giv 
ing  the  army  under  Buell  all  due  credit,  does  not  admit  that  Grant, 
without  it,  would  have  been  defeated,  but  rather,  as  in  the  preceding 
pages,  holds  that  the  enemy  had  done  his  utmost  and  that  Grant,  in 
stead  of  being  defeated,  was  ready,  on  Monday  morning,  to  assume 
the  offensive,  instead  of  going  into  the  river. 


GENERAL  SHERMAN'S  LETTER.  257 

"  HEAD-QUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  THE  MISSISSIPPI. 
"Prof.  Henry  Coppee,  Philadelphia  : 

"DEA.B  SIR: — In  the  June  number  of  the  United  /States  Service 
Magazine  I  find  a  brief  sketch  of  Lieutenant-General  U.  S.  Grant, 
in  which  I  see  you  are  likely  to  perpetuate  an  error,  which  General 
Grant  may  not  deem  of  sufficient  importance  to  correct.  To  Gen. 
Buell's  noble,  able  and  gallant  conduct  you  attribute  the  fact  that 
the  disaster  of  April  6th,  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  was  retrieved  and 
made  the  victory  of  the  following  day.  As  General  Taylor  is  said, 
in  his  later  days,  to  have  doubted  whether  he  was  at  the  battle  of 
Buena  Yista  at  all,  on  account  of  the  many  things  having  transpired 
there,  according  to  the  historians,  which  h&  did  not  see,  so  I  begin 
to  doubt  whether  I  was  at  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  of  mod 
ern  description.  But  I  was  at  the  battles  of  April  6th  and  7th,  1862. 
General  Grant  visited  my  division  in  person  about  10  A.  M.,  when 
the  battle  raged  fiercest.  I  was  then  on  the  right.  After  some 
general  conversation  he  remarked  that  I  was  doing  right  in  stub 
bornly  opposing  the  progress  of  the  enemy;  and,  in  answer  to  my 
inquiry  as  to  cartridges,  told  me  he  had  anticipated  their  want,  and 
given  orders  accordingly;  he  then  said  his  presence  was  more 
needed  over  at  the  left.  About  two  in  the  afternoon  of  the  6th,  the 
enemy  materially  slackened  his  attack  on  me,  and  about  four  in  the 
afternoon  I  deliberately  made  a  new  line  behind  Me  Arthur's  drill 
field,  placing  batteries  on  chosen  ground,  repelling  easily  a  cavalry 
attack,  and  watched  the  cautious  appoach  of  the  enemy's  infantry, 
that  never  dislodged  me  there.  I  selected'  that  line  in  advance  of  a 
bridge  across  Snake  creek,  by  which  we  had  all  day  been  expecting 
the  approach  of  Lew.  Wallace's  division  from  Crump's  Landing. 
About  five  in  the  evening,  before  the  sun  set,  General  Grant  came 
again  to  me,  and  after  hearing  my  report  of  matters,  explained  to 
me  the  situation  of  affairs  on  the  left,  which  were  not  as  favorable ; 
still  the  enemy  had  failed  to  reach  the  landing  of  the  boats.  We 
agreed  that  the  enemy  had  expended  the  furore  of  his  attack,  and 
we  estimated  our  loss,  and  approximated  our  then  strength,  includ 
ing  Lew.  Wallace's  fresh  division,  expected  each  minute.  He  then 
ordered  me  to  get  all  things  ready,  and  at  daylight  the  next  day  to 
assume  the  offensive.  That  was  before  General  Buell  had  arrived, 

17 


258  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

but  he  was  known  to  be  near  at  hand.  General  Buell's  troops  took 
no  essential  part  in  the  first  day's  fight,  and  Grant's  army,  though 
collected  together  hastily,  green  as  militia,  some  regiments  arriving 
without  cartridges  even,  and  nearly  all  hearing  the  dread  sound  of 
battle  for  the  first  time,  had  successfully  withstood  and  repelled  the 
first  day's  terrific  onset  of  a  superior  enemy,  well  commanded  and 
well  handled.  I  know  I  had  orders  from  General  Grant  to  assume 
the  offensive  before  I  knew  General  Buell  was  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Tennessee.  I  think  General  Buell,  Colonel  Fry,  and  others  of 
General  Buell' s  staff,  rode  up  to  where  I  was  about  sunset,  about 
the  time  General  Grant  was  leaving  me.  General  Buell  asked  me 
many  questions,  and  got  of  me  a  small  map,  which  I  had  made  for 
my  own  use,  and  told  me  that  by  daylight  he  could  have  eighteen 
thousand  fresh  men,  which  I  knew  would  settle  the  matter. 

"  I  understood  Grant's  forces  were  to  advance  on  the  right  of  the 
Corinth  road  and  Buell's  on  the  left,  and  accordingly  at  daylight  I 
advanced  my  division  by  the  flank,  the  resistance  being  trivial,  up 
to  the  very  spot  where,  the  day  before,  the  battle  had  been  most  se 
vere,  and  then  waited  till  near  noon  for  Buell's  troops  to  get  up 
abreast,  when  the  entire  line  advanced  and  recovered  all  the  ground 
we  had  ever  held.  I  know  that,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two 
severe  struggles,  the  fighting  of  April  *7th  was  easy  as  compared 
with  that  of  April  6th. 

"  I  never  was  disposed,  nor  am  I  now,  to  question  anything  done 
by  General  Buell  and  his  army,  and  I  know  that  approaching  our 
field  of  battle  from  the  rear,  he  encountered  that  sickening  crowd  of 
laggards  and  fugitives  that  excited  his  contempt  and  that  of  his 
army,  who  never  gave  full  credit  to  those  in  the  front  line,  who  did 
fight  hard,  and  who  had,  at  4  in  the  afternoon,  checked  the  enemy, 
and  were  prepared  the  next  day  to  assume  the  offensive.  I  remem 
ber  the  fact  better  from  General  Grant's  anecdote  of  his  Donelson 
battle,  which  he  told  me  then  for  the  first  time — that  at  a  certain 
•period  of  the  battle,  he  saw  that  either  side  was  ready  to  give  way 
if  the  other  showed  a  bold  front,  and  he  determined  to  do  that  very 
thing,  to  advance  on  the  enemy,  when,  as  he  prognosticated,  the 
enemy  surrendered.  At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  April  6th, 
ihe  thought  the  appearance  the  same,  and  he  judged  with  Lew. 


GEN.  SHERMAN'S  LETTER.  259 

Wallace's  fresh  division,  and  such  of  our  startled  troops  as  had  re 
covered  their  equilibrium,  he  would  be  justified  in  dropping  the 
deflmsiv:'  rind  assuming  the  offensive  in  the  morning.  And,  I  repeat, 
I  received  such  orders  before  I  knew  General  Buell's  troops  were 
at  th.-  river.  I  admit  that  I  was  glad  that  Biull  was  there,  because 
I  knew  his  troops  were  older  than  ours  and  better  systematized  an  I 
drilled,  and  his  arrival  made  that  certain,  which  before  was  uncer 
tain.  I  have  heard  this  question  much  discussed,  and  must  s.-iy  that 
the  officers  of  BuelFs  army  dwelt  too  much  on  the  sta  npede  of 
some  of  our  raw  troops,  and  gave  us  too  little  credit  for  the  .  tact 
that  for  one  whole  day,  weakened  as  we  were  by  the  absence  of 
Buell's  army,  long  expected,  of  Lew.  Wallace's  division,  only  four 
miles  off,  and  of  the  fugitives  from  our  ranks,  we  had  beaten  off  our 
assailants  for  the  time.  At  the  same  time,  our  Army  of  the  Tenn 
essee  have  indulged,  m  severe  criticism  at  the  slow  approach  of  that 
army  which  knew  the  danger  that  threatened  us  from  the  concentra 
ted  armies  of  Johnston,  Beauregard  and  Bragg  that  lay  at  Corinth. 
In  a  war  like  this,  where  Opportunities  of  personal  prowess  are  as 
plenty  as  blackberries  to  those  who  seek  them  at  the  front,  all  such 
criminations  should  be  frowned  down ;  and  were  it  not  for  the  mili 
tary 'character  of  your  journal  I  would  not  venture  to  offer  a  correc 
tion  of  a  very  popular  error. 

"  I  will  also  avail  myself  of  this  occasion  to  correct  another  very 
common  mistake  in  attributing  to  General  Grant  the  selection  of 
that  battle-field.  It  was  chosen  by  that  veteran  soldier,  Major-Gen. 
Charles  F.  Smith,  who  ordered  my  division  to  disembark  there,  and 
strike  for  the  Charleston  Railroad.  This  order  was  subsequently 
modified  by  his  ordering  Hurlbut's  division  to  disembark  there,  and 
minf1  higher  up  the  Tennessee  to  the  mouth  of  Yellow  Creek,  to 
strike  the  railroad  at  Burnsville.  But,  flood*  prevented  our  reaching 
the  railroad,  when  General  Smith  ordered  me  in  person  also  to  dis- 
e'n->  >rk  at  Pittsburg,  and  take  post,  well  out,  so  as  to  make  plenty 
o*"  room,  with  Snake  and  Lick  creeks  the  flanks  of  a  camp  for  the 
irrand  army  of  invasion. 

"  't  was  General  Smith  who  selected  that  fill  of  battle,  and  it  was 
well  chosen.  On  any  othe?*  we  surelv  would  have  been  over 
whelmed,  as  both  Lick  and  Snake  creeks  forced  the  enemy  to  con- 


260  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

fine  his  movements  to  a  direct  front  attack,  which  new  troops  are 
better  qualified  to  resist  than  where  flanks  are  exposed  to  a  real  or 
chimerical  danger.  Even  the  divisions  of  that  army  were  arranged 
in  that  camp  by  General  Smith's  order,  my  division  forming,  as  it 
were,  the  outlying  picket,  whilst  McClernand's  and  Prentiss'  were 
the  real  line  of  battle,  with  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  in  support  of  the 
right  wing,  and  Hurlbut  of  the  left ;  Lew.  Wallace's  division  being 
detached.  All  these  subordinate  dispositions  were  made  by  the 
order  of  General  Smith,  before  General  Grant  succeeded  him  to  the 
command  of  all  the  forces  up  the  Tennessee — head-quarters  Savan 
nah.  If  there  was  any  error  in  putting  that  army  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Tennessee,  exposed  to  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy  also 
assembling  at  Corinth,  the  mistake  was  not  General  Grant's — but 
there  was  no  mistake.  It  was  necessary  that  a  combat,  fierce  and 
bitter,  to  test  the  manhood  of  the  two  armies,  should  come  oif,  and 
that  was  as  good  a  place  as  any.  It  was  not  then  a  question  of 
military  skill  and  strategy,  but  of  courage  and  pluck,  and  I  am  con 
vinced  that  every  life  lost  that  day  to  us  was  necessary ;  for  other 
wise  at  Corinth,  at  Memphis,  at  Vicksburg,  we  would  have  found 
harder  resistance,  had  we  not  shown  our  enemies  that,  rude  and  un 
tutored  as  we  then  were,  we  could  fight  as  well  as  they. 

"  Excuse  so  long  a  letter,  which  is  very  unusual  from  me,  but  of 
course  my  life  is  liable  to  cease  at  any  moment,  and  I  happen  to  be 
a  witness  to  certain  truths  which  are  now  beginning  to  pass  out  of 
memory,  and  form  what  is  called  history. 

"  I  also  take  great  pleasure  in  adding  that  nearly  all  the  new 
troops  that,  at  Shiloh,  drew  from  me  official  censure  have  more  than 
redeemed  their  good  name  ;  among  them  that  very  regiment  which 
first  broke,  the  53d  Ohio,  Colonel  Appen.  Under  another  leader, 
Colonel  Jones,  it  has  shared  every  campaign  and  expedition  of  mine 
since,  is  with  me  now,  and  can  march  and  bivouac  and  fight  as  well 
as  the  best  regiment  in  this  or  any  army.  Its  reputation  now  is 
equal  to  any  from  the  State  of  Ohio. 

"I  am,  with  respect, 

"  Yours,  truly, 
"W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-Gen." 


BRIG-.- GEE   W.  H   L.WALLACE. 


OHAPTEE    XIY. 

PERSONAL  AXD  INCIDENTAL. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE — MAJOR-GENERAL  BENJAMIN  F.  PRENTISS — 
GENERAL  BRAYMEN — GENERAL  STUART — MAJOR-GENERAL  S.  A.  HURLBUT — LIEUT.- 
COLONEL  ELLIS — COLONEL  RAITH— MAJOR  GODDARD — MAJOR  EATON — MAJOR  PAGE — 
NOTICES  OF  WOUNDED  OFFICERS  IN  OFFICIAL  REPORTS — THE  BATTERIES — THE  SCOUT 
CARSON — OUR  WOUNDED — ILLINOIS  AND  THE  BATTLE  OF  SHILOH  ! 

NOT  without  the  price  of  costly  Mood  comes  the  redemption  of 
a  nation.  It  must  be  the  blood  of  the  best,  the  bravest. 
And  thus  has  it  been  in  our  struggle.  The  defenders  of  the  Con 
stitution  have  been  as  the  sons  of  kings,  and  freely  has  been  shed 
their  royal  gore.  The  altar  of  sacrifice  has  been  crimsoned  from 
the  veins  of  the  first-born  in  honor  and  dignity.  Such  blood  was 
shed  at  Shiloh. 

WILLIAM  HEXRY  LAMB  WALLACE  was  born  at  Urbana,  Ohio,  on 
the  8th  of  July,  1821.  In  1833  his  father  came  to  Illinois,  and 
made  his  residence  in  Lasalle  County,  on  the  south  side  of  the  beau 
tiful  Illinois  river,  about  four  miles  southeast  of  what  is  now  the 
city  of  Lasalle.  In  1839  another  removal  placed  the  family  at  Mt. 
Moms,  Ogle  County,  where  could  bo  enjoyed  the  benefits  of  the 
young  Rock  River  Seminary,  founded  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  an  institution,  the  students  of  which  have  enriched  more 
than  one  hotly  contested  field  with  their  blood. 

In  this  Seminary  young  Wallace  remained  until  he  had  completed 
its  course  of  study.  In  December,  1844,  after  some  preliminary 
legal  study,  he  went  with  Samuel  M.  H.  Hitt,  Esq.,  a  member  of  the 
General  Assembly,  to  Springfield,  with  the  purpose  of  entering,  as 
a  student,  the  law-office  of  Logan  &  Lincoln — Abraham  Lincoln. 
On  the  way  they  fell  into  company  with  Hon.  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  sub 
sequently  judge,  and  later  Colonel,  and  arriving  at  the  capital  the 


262  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

party  took  rooms  together.  Judge  Dickey  says,  "  Young  Wallace1 
assisted  me  in  preparing  my  cases  in  Supreme  Court  and  after  a  few 
weeks  concluded  to  come  to  Ottawa  and  study  law  in  my  office,  and 
accordingly  did  not  apply  to  Logan  &  Lincoln.  In  March,  1845,  he 
came  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  soon  after." 

But  war  was  to  delay  his  professional  labors.  In  1846  the  Mexi 
can  war  was  upon  us.  The  brave  and  eloquent  Hardin  was  raising 
the  1st  regiment  Illinois  volunteers,  and  Judge  Dickey  recruited 
and  commanded  Co.  I.  His  student  and  prospective  son-in-law 
enlisted  as  a  private,  and  was  made  orderly  sergeant,  and  was  so 
mustered  June  22,  1846.  A  few  weeks  later  he  was  promoted  2d 
Lieutenant,  "and,"  says  the  letter  of  Judge  Dickey,  "in  that  ca 
pacity  he  was  on  duty  in  his  company  on  the  voyage  down  the 
Mississippi,  across  the  Gulf  to  Matagorda  Bay,  and  on  the  march 
of  200  miles  made  in  August,  over  the  plains  of  Texas  to  San  An 
tonio  de  Bexar."  There  Captain  Dickey  was  compelled,  by  ill 
health,  to  resign  his  command,  and  1st  Lieut.  Ben.  M.  Prentiss,  ad- 
iutant  of  the  regiment,  succeeded  him,  and  Wallace  became  adju 
tant.  He  fought  by  the  side  of  his  gallant  Colonel,  and  in  the 
thunders  of  Buena  Vista,  was  near  him  when  he  was  struck  down. 
Could  he  dream  that  a  similar  fate  was  to  be  his  own  ? 

With  the  expiration  of  his  year's  enlistment  he  returned  to  Ottawa 
and  resumed  the  profession  of  law  as  partner  of  Hon.  John  C. 
Champlin.  In  1850,  as  Deputy  U.  S.  Marshal,  he  took  the  census 
of  Lasalle  County,  discharging  his  duties  promptly  and  accurately. 
February  18,  1851,  he  married  Miss  Martha  Ann  Dickey,  eldest 
daughter  of  Judge  Dickey. 

In  1852  Mr.  Wallace  was  elected  State  Attorney  for  the  ninth 
judicial  district,  an  office  he  held  until  the  Ml  of  1856.  The 
duties  of  such  a  position  are  delicate  and  exacting.  There  must  be 
firmness ;  there  should  not  be  cruelty.  Mr.  Wallace  met  its  con 
flicting  and  perplexing  duties  in  such  manner  as  to  merit  approval. 
He  was  obliged  to  measure  strength  with  the  ablest  talent  of  the 
Illinois  bar,  and  his  professional  brethren  saw  in  him  a  rising  man. 
From  1852  he  was  associated  in  business  with  his  father-in-law,  and 
when  the  war  came  the  firm  was  Judge  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  Mr.  Wal 
lace,  and  Cyrus  E.  Dickey.  The  two  junior  partners  at  once  vol- 


GEN.    W.  H.  L.  WALLACE.  263 

unteered.  Wallace  did  all  he  could — and  with  his  popularity  it  was 
much — to  aid  the  government  and  arouse  the  people  to  the  ma^ni- 
tude  of  the  struggle. 

In  May,  1861,  he  was  chosen  Colonel  of  the  llth  three-months' 
volunteers,  rendezvoused  at  Springfield.  He  was  sent  to  Villa 
Ridge,  twelve  miles  north  of  Cairo,  to  hold  the  railroad  and  wat;-h 
the  river.  While  here  his  camp  was  visited  by  Major-General  Geo. 
B.  McClellan,  and  that  officer  pronounced  it  the  best  regulated 
camp,  and  the  regiment  the  best  drilled  volunteer  regiment,  he  had 
seen. 

In  June  (the  20th)  he  was  ordered  to  Bird's  Point  and  placed  in 
command  of  the  post.  The  duties  at  this  post  were  complicated 
and  often  dangerous,  and  tested  both  his  legal  and  military  skill. 
Here  he  attracted  the  notice  of  General  Grant,  who  read  in  him  the 
essentials  of  the  commander.  About  the  last  of  January,  1862,  he 
marched  his  regiment  to  Fort  Jefferson. 

The  first  of  February  he  was  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade  in 
McClernand's  division  and  marched  to  Fort  Henry.  On  the  12th 
his  brigade,  forming  the  extreme  left  of  Gen.  McClernand's  divis 
ion,  marched  on  Fort  Donelson  and  took  part  in  the  severe  fighting 
of  the  13th,  14th  and  15th.  In  the  account  given  elsewhere  *it  was 
shown  how  well  his  command  bore  itself  and  how  it  was  covered 
with  imperishable  honor.  In  the  terrible  conflict  of  Saturday  fore 
noon  it  was  the  last  to  yield  to  the  concentrated  attack  of  the  rebel 
army  on  the  Union  right.  Wallace  proved  himself  worthy  to  com 
mand  such  troops  as  made  up  his  brigade.  Their  decimated  rolls 
told  how  sorely  they  suffered — their  comrades  tell  how  nobly  they 
fought.  There  was  no  wonder  when  the  rumor  came  that  Col. 
Wallace  was  promoted  to  Brigadier- General  of  Volunteers  for  gal 
lant  conduct  on  the  field  at  Fort  Donelson. 

From  Fort  Donelson  to  Pittsburg  Landing  the  troops  were  moved 
under  the  temporary  command  of  Gen.  C.  P.  Smith,  and  Wallace's 
brigade  went  into  camp  as  part  of  McClernand's  division.  Here  he 
received  the  confirmation  of  his  promotion. 

General  Grant  was  again  at  the  head  of  the  army  of  the  Tennes 
see,  which  he  found  in  six  divisions,  the  first  of  which  was  assigned 
to  General  C.  F.  Smith.  This  brave  and  able  officer  was  sick,  and 


264:  PATRIOTISM   OF  ILLINOIS. 

the  command  of  his  division  was  devolved  upon  General  Wallace, 
by  Major-General  Grant's  personal  direction. 

The  division  was  in  the  heat  of  battle,  and  much  depended  upon 
the  coolness  and  intrepidity  of  its  chief.  He  was  all  they  asked. 
He  shunned  no  danger  and  neglected  no  proper  caution.  From  ten 
to  nearly  five  o'clock  that  division  held  its  ground.  Four  times,  in 
massed  strength,  the  foe  was  beaten  back.  Wallace's  division  stood, 
with  Hurlbut's,  for  a  time  between  the  army  and  rum.  But,  without 
supports,  that  isolated  advance  must  be  abandoned,  and  a  retreat  be 
came  inevitable.  At  that  critical  juncture  the  brave  commander 
was  shot  through  the  head,  and  fell  from  his  horse  insensible,  and,  as 
was  supposed,  dead.  His  brother-in-law,  Lieut.  Cyrus  E.  Dickey,  as 
sisted  by  three  orderlies,  attempted  to  carry  him  from  the  ground, 
but,  pressed  by  the  pursuing  foe,  and  two  of  the  orderlies  being 
wounded,  they  sadly  laid  him  down  upon  the  field.  The  next  day 
the  Federal  forces  regained  that  ground  and  he  was  found,  not  dead, 
barely  living;  the  enemy  had  covered  him  with  a  blanket  and 
placed  his  head  upon  another  folded  as  a  pillow.  But  his  watch 
and  purse  were  gone.  He  was  removed  to  Savannah,  where  he 
lingered  until  Thursday,  April  10th,  when  he  died.  His  devoted 
wife  reached  Savannah  the  morning  of  the  battle,  and  watched  him 
with  all  of  woman's  unrecorded  tenderness  until  the  spirit  h:id  fled. 

The  remains  were  conveyed  to  Ottawa  and  buried.  An  immense 
concourse  followed  him  to  the  grave,  where  he  was  buried  with 
masonic  rites.  The  "  acacia  sprigs  "  thrown  upon  his  coffin-lid,  not 
only  symboled  immortality,  but  told  the  undying  love  in  which 
his  memory  should  be  held.  Of  the  military,  only  his  aids,  Captain 
Hotchkiss  and  Lieut.  Dickey,  were  present,  but  in  the  cortege  was 
his  own  flag,  that  of  the  llth,  bullet-torn  and  rent  from  the  fields  of 
Donelson  and  Shiloh ! 

General  Wallace  was  tall  and  erect,  dignified,  almost  to  reserve. 
As  a  commander  he  more  than  met  the  highest  anticipations  of  his 
friends  and  admirers. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  the  Bar  of  Illinois,  through  Judge  Purple, 
presented  the  following  resolutions  : 

"Resolved,  That  the  recent  death  of  our- esteemed  friend  and  brother,  the  late 
W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  from  wounds  received  while  gallantly  leading  a  division  at  the 


ACTION   OF    THE    ILLINOIS    BAR.  265 

battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  the  Bar  of  Illinois,  in  common  with  the  people  of  the 
whole  State,  deplore  the  loss  of  a  soldier,  who,  as  well  in  his  life  as  by  the  manner 
of  his  death  on  the  field,  has  sealed  by  his  blood  this  new  testimony  to  the  inerad 
icable  devotion  which  the  people  of  Illinois  are  manifesting  in  heroic  deeds  and 
patriotic  sacrifices  to  that  form  of  free  government  on  this  continent  which  domes 
tic  traitors  are  so  wickedly  attempting  to  overthrow. 

"  Resolved,  That  while,  as  citizens,  the  State  may  regret  the  loss  of  the  ex 
perienced  chief  who  could  successfully  inspire  by  his  personal  daring  and  valor  the 
troops  committed  to  his  charge,  and  by  his  example  and  bravery  command  success 
in  that  desperate  charge  or  assault  of  battle,  and  while  to  the  grateful  history  of 
his  country  is  now  committed  that  fame  which  to  remote  ages  will  hereafter  rank 
his  name  with  the  other  heroic  defenders  of  the  Republic,  yet  the  Bar  of  Illinois 
have  a  sadder  tribute  to  now  render  his  memory,  by  an  expression  of  the  profound 
grief  which  they  feel  at  this  parting  and  loss  of  a  friend  and  brother. 

"  Resolved,  That  they  knew  in  the  late  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  one  who,  while  possess 
ing  all  the  virtues  which  adorn  a  private  life  of  exemplary  excellence ;  in  his  pro 
fessional  character  he  was  also  a  man  without  a  blemish.  Of  a  persevering  in 
dustry,  a  very  high  order  of  legal  attainments,  and  the  very  highest  order  of 
intellectual  capacity — he  seemed  above  all  to  shine  in  the  very  spirit  of  intellectual, 
moral  and  professional  rectitude.  This  was  "  the  daily  beauty  of  his  life," 
which  never  ceased  to  distinguish  him  in  that  career  of  professional  triumph  which 
had  placed  him  already  in  the  very  front  rank  of  eminent  professional  men,  hi 
all  his  intercourse  with  his  brethren  of  this  Bar  and  the  State.  As  brethren, 
therefore,  of  the  profession  which  he  honored  in  his  life,  as  well  as  by  his  glori 
ous  death,  we  may  well  pause,  as  we  now  do,  in  the  midst  of  our  professional  and 
other  avocations,  to  drop  a  tear  upon  the  tomb,  and  inscribe  this  brief  tablet  by 
recalling  a  few  of  the  many  virtues  of  his  life. 

*'  Resolved,  That  we  tender  our  deepest  sympathies  to  the  widow  and  family  of 
our  departed  brother;  in  their  bereavement  we  are  impressed  with  the  conviction 
that  all  mere  words  are  inadequate  to  express  that  deep  sense  of  affliction  which 
the  loss  of  such  a  husband  must  have  caused  to  the  bereaved  and  stricken  one. 
We  humbly  commend  her  to  the  guardianship  and  care  of  Him,  from  whom  alone 
at  such  a  time,  can  come  the  only  solace  for  hearts  so  afflicted.  He  only  can  "tem 
per  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb." 

"Resolved,  That  Hon.  Norman  H.  Purple,  the  Chairman  of  this  meeting,  be  ap 
pointed  to  present  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  this  State, 
at  its  present  session,  and  request  that  they  may  be  entered  on  record  among  the 
proceedings  of  said  Court. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  this  meeting  furnish  a  copy  of  the  proceed 
ings  of  the  meeting,  and  they  be  presented  to  the  family  of  deceased." 

Judge  Purple  presented  the  resolutions   accompanied    with    an 


266  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

eloquent  tribute  to  the  virtues  and  memory  of  the  deceased,  to 
which  his  Honor,  Chief  Justice  Caton  thus  replied : 

"The  Court  received  the  announcement  of  the  death  of  Gen. 
Wallace  with  emotions,  for  the  expression  of  which  we  find  no  ade 
quate  words.  In  his  death  the  Bar  has  lost  one  of  its  brightest 
ornaments,  the  Court  one  of  its  safest  advisers,  and  our  country  one 
of  its  ablest  defenders.  His  Avhole  professional  life  has  been  passed 
among  us,  and  Ave  have  known  him  well.  All  your  words  of  en 
comium  are  but  simple  justice,  and  we  know  they  proceed  from  the 
deepest  convictions  of  their  truth.  All  his  instincts  were  those  of  a 
gentleman;  all  his  impulses  were  of  a  noble  and  lofty  character — 
his  sensibilities  refined  and  generous.  He  was  certainly  a  man  of 
a  very  high  order  of  talent,  and  he  was  a  very  excellent  lawyer. 
By  his  industry  he  studied  the  law  closely,  and  by  his  clear  judg 
ment  he  applied  it  properly.  He  did  honor  to  his  profession — it  is 
meet  that  his  professional  brethren  should  honor  his  memory. 

"  Scarcely  a  year  ago  he  was  with  us,  engaged  in  a  lucrative  prac 
tice — the  ornament  and  the  delight  of  a  large  circle  of  friends,  and 
enjoying  the  quiet  endearments  of  domestic  life,  loving  and  beloved 
by  a  family  worthy  of  him,  now  made  desolate.  At  the  very  first 
call  of  his  country  for  defenders,  he  abandoned  his  practice,  lie  with 
drew  from  his  associates  and  friends  at  home,  and  tore  himself  from 
the  domestic  circle,  and  pledged  his  energies  and  his  life  to  the  vin 
dication  of  his  country's  flag,  which  has  been  torn  down  and  dishon 
ored  by  rebel  hands  at  Sumter — to  the  defence  of  that  Constitution 
and  those  laws,  the  maintenance  of  which  is  indispensable  to  material 
greatness  and  happiness.  For  these  he  fought,  for  these  he  died. 

"For  myself,  I  may  say,  he  was  my  near  neighbor  and  my  dear 
friend.  He  honored  me  with  his  confidence,  and  disclosed  to  me 
fully  the  patriotic  impulses  which  led  him  to  abandon  all  to  defend 
his  native  land.  If  he  was  an  able  lawyer,  so  he  was  an  able  com 
mander.  If  we  mourn  him  as  a  departed  friend  and  brother,  so 
does  the  country  mourn  him  as  one  of  her  ablest  Generals  gone. 

"  With  the  glad  news  of  victory,  comes  the  sad  lament  of  his 
death.  Our  gladness  was  turned  to  mourning.  So  it  ever  is,  and 
so  must  it  ever  be  in  this  sublunary  world.  With  all  our  joys  are 
mingled  strains  of  sorrow.  Happiness  unalloyed  is  reserved  for 


GENERAL  B.  F.  PKENTISS.  267 

that  brighter  and  better  world  promised  to  those  who  act  well  their 
part  on  earth,  into  the  full  fruition  of  which,  those  who  knew  him 
best,  doubt  not  he  is  accepted. 

"  The  resolutions  which  have  been  adopted  by  the  Bar  will  be 
entered  upon  the  records  of  the  Court,  as  a  perpetual  memorial  of 
o-ur  appreciation  of  the  worth  of  the  late  General  Wallace,  and  the 
Clerk  will  furnish  a  copy  of  them  and  a  copy  of  this  order  to  the 
widow  and  family  of  the  deceased,  and  out  of  respect  to  his  mem 
ory  the  Court  will  now  adjourn." 

MAJOR-GENERAL  B.  F.  PRENTISS. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  was  the  first  in  Illinois  who 
wore  the  insignia  of  a  Brigadier ;  one  of  the  first  placed  in  command 
of  a  division  and  the  first  to  be  carried  into  captivity,  and  experience 
the  tender  mercies  of  the  Southern  chivalry. 

BENJAMIN  F.  PRENTISS  was  born  November  23,  1819  at  Bell- 
ville,  Virginia,  subsequently  his  father  removed  to  Missouri ;  thus 
the  youth  of  the  future  General  was  spent  in  the  midst  of  the  prac 
tical  beauties  of  American  slavery.  It  may  be  that  early  recollec 
tions  had  to  do  with  the  bitterness  with  which  the  General  denounced 
the  system  and  all  its  appendages  in  the  political  campaign  in  1864. 

In  1841  the  family  removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois^  where  he  sup 
ported  and  educated  himself  by  working  at  his  trade,  rope-making. 
His  first  taste  of  war  was  in  1844.  He  was  1st  Lieutenant  of  the 
Quincy  Rifles,  of  which  Captain  (Brigadier-General)  James  D. 
Morgan  was  commander.  "  The  Rifles  went  into  Hancock  county 
the  infested  district  and  rendered  the  State  some  service  in 
the  maintenance  of  order. 

At  the  out-breaking  of  the  Mexican  war  he  promptly  volunteered 
and  was  made  Adjutant  of  Colonel  Hardin's  Regiment,  1st  Illinois 
Infantry.  On  the  resignation  of  Capt.  T.  L.  Dickey,  he  became 
Captain  of  Co.  I  and  was  succeeded  as  Adjutant  by  W.  H.  L. 
Wallace.  The  companies  of  James  D.  Morgan  and  Prentiss,  Mor 
gan  the  ranking  officer,  were  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  posted  at 
Saltillo,  under  orders  from  Gen.  Taylor  and  held  it,  against  a  supe 
rior  force,  and  these  regiments  won  marked  commendation  from 
their  perfection  in  drill,  and  soldierly  efficiency. 


2'68  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Returning  to  Quincy  Captain  Prentiss  resumed  for  a  time  hifi 
former  trade,  and  subsequently  entered  the  commission  and  for 
warding  business  in  which  he  continued  until  the  war  began. 

In  18GO  he  was  a  candidate  for  Congress  against  William  A. 
Richardson,  but  the  district  was  overwhelmingly  democratic  and  he 
was  beaten. 

Of  course  the  intelligence  of  the  outrage  upon  the  Flag  stirred 
the  blood  of  one  who  had  carried  it  beyond  the  Rio  Grande.  On 
Sunday  came  word  of  the  surrender  of  Sumter,  and  in  one  week, 
Prentiss,  with  the  reorganized  Quincy  Rifles  and  others,  amounting 
in  all  to  two  hundred  men,  was  en  route  to  Cairo,  determined  to  aid 
in  holding  it  at  all  hazards.  He  was  elected  Col.  of  the  7th  Re«n- 

O  O 

ment,  and  as  soon  as  there  were  troops  enough  to  organize  a  brigade, 
he  was  elected  Brigadier-General  of  Illinois  troops  under  the  three 
months'  call,  his  former  compatriot,  Morgan,  succeeding  him  in 
command  of  the  7th.  He  was  active  and  energetic  at  Cairo, 
placing  its  defences  in  such  order  as  to  promise  resistance  to  any 
assailing  force,  drilling  his  new  recruits,  who,  though  since  proved 
to  be  very  brave,  were  most  of  them  very  raw. 

At  the  close  of  the  three  months'  term  General  Prentiss  was  made 
Brigadier- General  of  volunteers,  by  Presidential  appointment,  and 
very  soon  was  ordered  into  Southern-Missouri,  where  he  conducted 
an  expedition  through  Pilot  Knob,  and  the  southern  part  of  the 
State.  He  was  next  ordered  into  North  Missouri  where,  with  a 
handful  of  troops,  whom  he  multiplied  by  activity,  he  subdued  for  a 
time  the  desperate  hordes  of  guerrillas  which  infested  the  unfortu 
nate  district.  From  thence  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  General 
Grant  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  where  he  arrived  only  two  or  three 
days  before  the  battle  and  was  ordered  at  once  to  take  command  of 
the  6th  division. 

The  reader  has  seen  the  statement  made  by  the  General  as  to  the 
disposition  of  troops  to  prevent  surprise  and  to  meet  the  enemy. 
Charging  with  fury  came  the  picked  men  of  Johnston's  army,  and 
the  gallant  sixth  division  received  the  attention  of  its  heavy  columns. 
Seeing  he  was  flanked,  General  Prentiss  ordered  his  division  to  fall 
back  in  order  of  battle,  to  the  color  line  of  his  encampment,  at  the 
same  time  sending  word  to  Wallace  and  Hurlbut.  Again  compelled 


OttATOKY    AND    MUSIC. 

to  retire,  his  division  was  re-formed  on  Hurlbut's  right  and  Wallace's 
left.  Again  and  again  came  on  the  foe  and  his  command  was 
grea-tly  reduced  by  casualties  and  the  escapade  of  many  of  his  raw 
troops.  At  ten  A.  M.,  General  Grant  visited  his  division  and  ex 
pressed  himself  gratified  with  his  exertions  and  plans,  and  ordered 
him  to  maintain  his  position.  He  did  so,  until  even  Hurlbut's  iron 
division  was  compelled  to  give  way,  when  he  changed  front  and  at 
tempted  to  advance  upon  the  enemy,  only  to  find  himself  encircled 
by  his  foe  and  without  supports,  and  was  obliged,  with  more  than 
two  thousand  to  surrender.  He  fought  desperately  to  prevent  it, 
but  was  overpowered.  The  exultation  of  the  captors  was  beyond 
description.  As  they  passed  through  Southern  towns,  the  popula 
tion  thronged  to  see  a  Yankee  General,  and  occasionally  the  General 
treated  them  to  a  sound  stirring  Union  speech,  such  as  they  had  not 
often  heard  in  their  "  sunny  latitudes."  In  Memphis  he  made  a 
speech  on  the  10th,  ostensibly  to  his  own  troops,  but  the  citizens 
heard  it  and  some  cheered.  The  Provost  Marshal  bade  him  be 
silent.  The  General  told  him  that  his  (Prentiss')  friends  there,  were 
four  to  one  if  they  could  be  heard.  He  said  to  the  citizens,  "  Keep 
quiet  a  few  weeks  and  you  will  have  an  opportunity  to  cheer  the 
old  flag  to  your  hearts'  content."  His  "boys"  gave,  as  musical  vol 
unteers,  Hail  Columbia,  Red  White  and  Blue,  Happy  Land  of 
Canaan,  and  set  to  melody  the  information  that 

"  John  Brown's  soul  is  marching  on  I 
Glory,  hallelujah  !" 

They  were  conveyed  to  Montgomery,  Alabama,  where  they  were 
paroled,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1862.  They  reached  Nashville  on  the 
5th  of  June.  The  reason  assigned  for  the  parole  was  the  inability 
to  feed  them.  The  rebels  had  not  then  reached  the  savage  cruelty 
of  deliberately  starving  our  men  taken  in  battle,  as  in  Libby  Prison, 
Andersonville  and  Millen ! 

On  the  29th  of  November  his  commission  as  Major-General  of 
volunteers  was  dated,  subsequently  to  which  he  rendered  compara 
tively  little  active  service,  and  within  a  few  months  tendered  his 
resignation.  In  the  Presidential  canvass  of  1863,  he  was  placed 
upon  the  Republican  electoral  ticket  for  the  State  at  large,  and 
spoke  repeatedly  in  favor  of  the  re-election  of  Mr.  Lincoln  and  the 


270  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

election  of  his  former  companion  in  arms,  General  Oglesby,  to  the 
gubernatoral  chair  of  Illinois. 

Brigadier- General  Mason  Bray  man,  was  born  in  Buffalo,  New 
York,  May  23, 1813.  His  farm-life  and  the  common  school  gave  him 
his  early  education.  He  entered  the  office  of  the  Buffalo  Journal 
and  learned  the  printer's  trade, and  the  second  year  was  made  fore 
man.  From  the  types  to  preparation  for  the  bar  was  the  next  step, 
and  at  twenty  years  of  age,  he  was  editor  of  the  Buffalo  Bulletin. 
a  thorough  Jackson  paper,  advocating  democracy  with  all  imagina 
ble  zeal,  and  with  fair  ability  to  boot.  At  twenty-two  he  was  admit 
ted  to  the  bar,  and  the  succeeding  year  he  married. 

In  1837  he  was  editor  of  the  Louisville  Advertiser.  In  1842,  he 
removed  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  Three  years  subsequently,  under  appointment  of  Gov 
ernor  Ford,  he  revised  and  codified  the  Statutes  of  the  State.  In 
1846  he  was  made  a  special  states'  attorney  and  commissioned  to 
prosecute  offences  growing  out  of  the  Mormon  war. 

In  1851,  he  was  attorney  for  the  Illinois  Central  Railway,  and  a? 
such,  had  the  management  of  vast  pecuniary  interests,  securing  the 
right  of  way,  protecting  its  land,  &c.  He  was  associated  with  the 
late  Governor  Bissell,  and  the  presence  of  the  latter  in  Congress  de 
volved  most  of  the  care  and  responsibility  on  Mr.  Brayman. 

He  was  next  engaged  in  a  great  railway  scheme  which  should 
connect  Cairo  with  Texas,  connecting  south  and  west  with  Galves- 
ton  and  the  Pacific.  It  was  a  huge  undertaking.  Mr.  Brayman  was 
president  of  the  two  companies  engaged  in  it,  and  the  prospects 
were  flattering  until  the  commencement  of  the  war,  which  of  course 
laid  aside  the  "  Southern  route  to  the  Pacific,"  until  peace  should 
return  and  render  Southern  travel  safe  for  Northern  men  with  Union 
principles. 

He  was  an  original  and  thorough  Democrat  in  his  convictions  and 
associations,  but  on  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he  with  McCler- 
nand  and  Logan  at  once  offered  himself  to  the  country.  Governor 
Yates  gave  him  a  commission  as  Major  of  the  29th  infantry,  forming 
part  of  General  McClernand's  brigade.  He  was  appointed  chief  of 
staff  and  Assistant  Adjutant,  for  which  position  his  business  habits 
and  decision  gave  him  eminent  fitness.  Of  course  his  relations  to 


GENERAL    BRAYMAN.  271 

General  McCleniand  brought  him  early  into  action.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Belmont,  and  Gen.  McCleniand  speaks  of  him  with  his 
other  staff  officers  "  as  entitled  to  gratitude  for  the  zeal  and  alacrity 
with  which  they  bore  orders  in  the  face  of  danger,  and  discharged 
all  their  duties  in  the  field."  He  was  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Donel- 
son,  and  during  the  battle  of  Shiloh  he  manifested  gallantry  rhioh 
won  admiration  from  his  superiors  and  the  rank  and  file.  At  a  criti 
cal  juncture  when  the  enemy  came  on  to  carry  a  battery,  and  the 
supporting  regiments  faltered,  the  Major  seized  a  flag  which  had 
fallen,  and  passing  in  front,  rallied  them,  while  the  enemy's  mus 
ketry  was  pouring  a  shower  of  balls  about  him,  but  escaped  unhurt. 
He  believed  then  and  since  that  God  preserved  him,  for  he  has  faith 
in  Providence. 

Colonel  Reardon  resigning,  Major  Brayman  became  Colonel  of  the 
29th  infantry  April  15,  1862.  His  service  being  with  our  Western 
armies,  will  come  before  the  reader  with  the  various  campaigns,  and 
is  not  sketched  in  detail. 

Having,  by  gallantry  and  capacity,  shown  his  right  to  promotion, 
he  was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers  Sept.  24,  1862. 

While  Gen.  Brayman  was  commanding  the  post  of  Bolivar,  Tenn., 
one  Neely,  clerk  of  the  Hardeman  County  Court,  was  brought  before 
him,  and  the  order  in  reference  to  him  acquired  such  a  notoriety 
that  the  insertion  of  a  part  of  it  will  be  of  interest  to  our  readers : 

"SPECIAL  ORDER  No.  64. 

"The  General  Commanding  is  advised  that  Rufus P.  Neely,  clerk  of  the  Hardeman 
County  Court,  late  a  colonel  in  the  rebel  army,  and  engaged  in  acts  of  war  against 
the  United  States,  still  persists  in  treasonable  language  and  acts — giving  aid  and 
comfort  to  armed  enemies,  and  disturbing  the  peace  of  this  post — he  having  taken 
an  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  pretended  government  of  the  confederate  States,  in 
violation  of  his  oath  of  office — still  adhering  to  such  allegiance,  and  refusing  to 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  United  States. 

"  On  the  night  of  November  28th,  he  was  arrested  and  brought  within  the  lines, 
and  on  that  and  the  two  succeeding  nights,  a  party  of  mounted  men,  including  two 
commissioned  officers,  was  detailed  to  guard  his  premises  and  capture  guerillas,  who 
were  prowling  in  the  neighborhood,  and  were  said  to  be  entertained  at  his  house. 

"While  there,  the  party  were  assailed  with  abusive  epithets,  and  compelled,  while 
in  the  performance  of  duty,  to  listen  to  disloyal  declarations  and  threats  on  the 
part  of  the  wife  and  daughters  of  Mr.  Neely.  They  state  in  writing  that  Mrs.  Neely 


272  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

acknowledged  the  fact  of  harboring  Southern  soldiers,  and  declared  that  she  would 
give  the  last  thing  she  had  to  help  them — that  the  federal  army  '  was  a  set  of  mur 
derers  and  rogues' — that  the  oath  was  of  no  effect  for  a  secessionist  to  take — that 
she  would  go  where  she  pleased  and  would  not  take  the  oath — that  'the  Devil  had 
telegraphed  to  Jeff.  Davis  not  to  send  him  any  more  Yankees,  for  hell  was  already 
full  of  them,  and  he  could  not  accommodate  any  more  until  he  could  dig  another 
pit  to  put  them  in,'  etc.,  etc.  A  daughter  is  reported  as  declaring  that  if  she  had 
her  way,  'all  the  Yankees  should  ba  put  in  prison  and  fed  on  bread  and  water  thirty 
days,  if  they  lived  so  long' — that  if  'old  Abe  Lincoln  had  been  dead,  and  such  a 
man  as  Jeff.  Davis  in  his  place,  this  trouble  would  not  have  been' — that  'Lincoln 
and  all  such  men  ought  to  be  dead' — that  '  old  George  Washington  was  a  nasty,  mean 
old  scamp !' 

"The  General  Commanding  regards  with  great  charity,  the  harmless  ebullitions 
of  malevolence  and  spite,  which,  so  far  from  being  dangerous,  only  indicate  sympa 
thy  with  a  wicked  and  failing  cause.  The  patriotic  officers  and  soldiers  of  the 
American  army  have  been  severely  tried  in  this  particular,  and  deserve  great  credit 
for  the  forbearance  with  which  they  have  listened  without  resenting.  This  may, 
however,  be  due  to  the  fact  that  their  forbearance  has  been  taxed  most  severely 
by  those  whose  gentle  sex  claimed  their  homage,  and  whose  social  position,  educa 
tion,  and  supposed  refinement  of  manners  would  appear  to  afford  a  guarantee 
against  intentional  and  persistent  rudeness. 

"It  is  not  the  desire  or  duty  of  officers  in  command  to  take  account  of  indecent 
and  treasonable  language,  unless  uttered  under  such  circumstances  as  to  do  harm,  or 
to  affect  the  efficiency  of  the  service.  In  the  case  under  consideration,  tho  officers 
and  soldiers  of  the  United  States  were  on  duty — obeying  orders,  and  entitled  to  pro 
tection  ;  not  only  from  molestation,  but  from  insult.  The  General  Commanding  will 
not  impose  upon  his  men  disagreeable  duties,  and  require  of  them,  in  addition,  to 
submit  to  needless  humiliation  from  public  enemies,  even  though  persons  called  la 
dies,  are  the  offenders. 

"The  avowal  of  treasonable  acts  and  intentions,  the  coarse  and  disrespectful 
terms  in  which  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  the  army  of  which  he  is 
Commander-in-Chief,  are  spoken  of,  as  before  recited,  are  so  often  heard,  and  have 
been  so  long  tolerated  under  the  very  shadow  of  our  flag,  as  to  excite  no  surprise 
— scarcely  rebuke. 

"  But  it  is  not  so — it  shall  not  be  so,  when  the  venerated  name  of  WASHINGTON  is 
profaned.  Among  all  nations,  civilized  and  savage — in  all  languages— by  high  and 
low — by  the  good,  the  noble,  the  brave,  and  gentle — even  by  the  drunkard,  the  ruf 
fian  and  the  traitor,  the  memory  of  Washington  is  held  in  reverence.  To  the  men 
and  women  of  America,  his  name  is  expressive  of  all  that  is  brave  and  magnanimous 
in  war,  and  good  and  wise  in  statesmanship,  and  is  spoken  with  something  of  that 
reverential  awe  which  is  felt  when  pronouncing  that  of  the  Savior  of  mankind.  A 
case  is  here  presented — the  first  within  memory,  in  which  this  universal  sentiment 
of  the  Christian  world  has  been  set  at  defiance.  It  affords  another  striking  evidence 


Gfe&TSKAL   STUART.  273 

•>f  the  destructive  and  demoralizing  influence  of  that  political  heresy  which  seeks 
the  overthrow  of  that  benignant  government,  and  the  dishonor  of  the  sacred  flag 
which  the  valor  and  wisdom  of  Washington  gave  us.  The  General  Commanding 
feels  no  delicate  reserve  in  expressing  his  abhorrence  of  such  language,  whenever 
and  by  whomsoever  spoken.  Let  the  man  who  dares  to  utter  it  die  the  death  of  a 
traitor,  and  the  roof-tree  beneath  which,  a  woman  shall  revile  the  memory  of  Wash 
ington,  tumble  in  swift  ruin  to  the  ground. 

"  In  consideration  of  the  matters  here  stated,  it  is  ordered  as  follows : 

"  First.  The  Provost  Marshal  will  release  Rufus  P.  Neely,  late  colonel  in  the 
rebel  army,  from  close  custody,  and  remand  him  to  his  plantation  outside  the  picket- 
Vines  of  this  post. 

"  Second.  The  Provost  Marshal  will  also  revoke  any  permits  heretofore  given  to 
«iid  Neely,  his  wife,  and  his  daughter,  Miss  Kate  Neely,  to  pass  within  the  picket- 
lines  of  this  post,  and  will  absolutely  exclude  them  therefrom,  until  further  orders. 

"  Third.  Said  Rufus  P.  Neely  is  debarred  from  holding  the  office,  or  performing 
'••any  of  the  duties  of  Clerk  of  Hardernan  County." 

This  was  followed  by  an  earnest  exhortation  to  the  people  of 
West  Tennessee  to  purge  themselves  of  all  complicity  with  treason 
in  their  homes. 

Gen.  Brayman  is  a  Christian  patriot  who  has  well  served  his  State. 
We  shall  meet  him  again  with  our  armies. 

Brigadier-General  David  Stuart  was  the  son  of  Robert  Stuart  of 
the  old  Scotch  covenanter  type  and  stock.  Mr.  Robert  Stuart  was 
a  prominent  trader  among  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest  and  accom 
panied  the  expedition  of  Clark  &  Lewis.  The  General  was  his 
second  child,  and  after  an  academic  course  at  Utica  and  Oberlin,  he 
graduated  at  Amherst  College.  Studying  law  he  became  a  success 
ful  advocate,  especially  in  criminal  practice.  Popular  in  his  manner 
and  style  of  oratory,  and  an  ardent  democrat,  he  was  early  thrown 
into  political  life,  and  in  1852  went  into  Congress  from  the  first 
district  of  Michigan.  While  in  the  House,  he  determined  to  aban 
don  politics  and  devote  himself  arduously  to  his  profession,  and  see 
ing  in  Chicago  an  inviting  field  he  removed  thither  in  1855,  where 
he  soon  took  high  rank.  . 

He  acquired  national  notoriety  from  his  connection  with  a  cele 
brated  divorce  case,  the  details  of  which  were  published  in  the  lead 
ing  dialies  east  and  west. 

Colonel  Wilson  says  of  him: 

18  i 


274:  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

"  No  sooner  had  the  rebellion  broken  out,  than  David  Stuart,  true 
to  the  instincts  of  his  nature  and  the  patriotic  blood  that  flowed  in 
his  veins,  threw  aside  his  briefs  and  at  once  commenced  raising  a 
brigade,  to  be  called  after  Senator  Douglas,  whose  devoted  and  car- 
nest  friend  he  was.  Circumstances*  of  an  unfortunate  character  had 
occurred  at  Chicago  which,  for  a  time,  cast  a  cloud  over  Ins  career ; 
and  acting  under  prejudices  very  natural,  the  press,  the  bar,  and 
even  the  public,  with  few  exceptions,  interposed  every  obstacle  and 
barrier  to  his  success  in  raising,  equipping  and  fitting-out  the  Doug 
las  Brigade.  This  opposition  and  these  obstacles  only  served  to 
develop  the  heroism  of  the  man,  and  called  into  play  the  Scotch 
persistence  of  his  nature.  In  spite  of  the  unjust  jeers  of  the  press, 
in  spite  of  the  calumnies  of  the  crowd  and  the  taunts  of  his  breth 
ren  of  the  bar,  David  Stuart,  by  his  own  energies,  with  his  own 
purse,  by  his  talents,  persistence  and  power,  raised  and  put  into  the 
field  the  Douglas  Brigade,  consisting  of  two  regiments  of  one  thou 
sand  men  each ;  and  I  venture  to  say,  that  finer  regiments,  better 
equipped  or  more  thoroughly  drilled,  have  not  joined  the  ranks  of 
the  armies  of  the  Union. 

"July  22,  1861,  Stuart  was  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  1st 
Douglas  Regiment,  known  as  the  42d,  Colonel  Webb,  and,  October 
31st,  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  2d  Douglas  (or  55th)  Regiment 
which  was  sent  into  the  field  on  the  5th  of  December.  Colonel 
Stuart  was  in  command  of  a  brigade  in  Sherman's  division  at  the 
battle  of  Shiloh,  where  he  displayed  soldierly  qualities  of  the  high' 
est  order  and  was  severely  wounded.  General  W.  T.  Sherman,  in 
his  report,  says:  'My  2d  brigade,  Colonel  Stuart,  was  detached 
near  two  miles  from  my  headquarters.  He  had  to  fight  his  own 
battle  on  Sunday,  as  the  enemy  interposed  between  him  and  Gen. 
Prentiss  early  in  the  day.  Colonel  Stuart  was  wounded  severely, 
and  yet  reported  for  duty  on  Monday  morning.'  Colonel  Stuart 
.has  been  constantly  on  duty  with  his  regiment  or  brigade  since  he 
first  took  the  field,  and,  on  December  2,  1862,  was  appointed  by 
the  President  a  Brigadier-General." 

It  is  useless  to  speculate  upon  the  refusal  of  the  Senate  to  confirm 
the  nomination,  but  it  did  so,  and  the  General  retired  from  the  ser- 

*The  divorce  case  above  mentioned. 


-GENERAL   HUBLBUT.  275 

Vice,  He  had  already  won  distinction.  His  bravery  and  skill  prom 
ised  well  to  the  army,  and  would  have  given  him  eminence  among 
the  defenders  of  the  national  honor. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  STEPHEN  A.  HURLBUT. 

General  Hurlbut  has  been  from  the  outset,  an  officer  of  ability  and 
terrible  earnestness.  He  has  struck  hard  and  telling  blows  against 
the  foes  of  his  government,  but  none  against  its  friends.  He  has 
won  distinction  on  the  field.  His  division  was  first  to  land  and  hold 
Pittsburg  Landing,  and  in  the  long  and  desperate  conflict,  the  "  Fight 
ing  Fourth"  was  as  a  wall  of  steel ;  none  of  its  regiments  lost  their 
organization  or  failed  to  rally  to  their  colors.  It  is  not  claiming  too 
much  to  say  that  to  him  is  due  the  brilliant  success  of  the  fight  of 
lEIatchie.  Subsequently,  while  in  command  of  the  l'6th  Army  Corps, 
with  headquarters  at  Memphis,  there  were  79,000  men  on  its  rolls.  This 
leader  we  simply  introduce ;  he  will  pass  before  the  reader  again  as  the 
course  of  our.  Illinois  legions  is  marked  on  the  red  fields  of  war,  for 
he  is  still  in  the  service. 

It  may  be  that  his  fiery  earnestness  is  partially  due  to  his  intimate 
knowledge  of  the  people  we  have  to  fight,  for  he  was  born  in 
'Charleston,  S.  C.,  Nov.  29,  ]  815.  The  son  of  a  Unitarian  clergyman, 
he  received  a  good  education,  and  then  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
James  L.  Pettigrew  in  Charleston,  and  in  that  nest  of  nullification 
and  treason  he  practiced  law  several  years. 

During  the  Florida  war,  he  entered  the  six  months'  volunteers  as 
sergeant  in  a  company  of  militia,  and  came  out  lieutenant  on  the  staff. 

He  had  the  good  sense  to  see  that  for  a  man  of  active  tempera 
ment  and  strong  convictions,  there  was  ampler  scope  and  better 
opportunity  in  the  great  fields  of  the  free  Northwest. 

In  1845  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Belvidere,  Boone 
'County,  and  engaged  in  his  profession,  occasionally  mingling  in 
politics,  being  a  prominent  member  of  the  State  Constitutional  Con 
vention  in  1847.  This  fact  shows  that  he  soon  made  his  impress 
upon  the  people,  for  as  yet  he  had  been  resident  less  than  two  years. 
He  also  represented  tha't  constituency  in  the  State  Legislature  sev 
eral  times  and  with  marked  ability. 

Mr.  Lincoln  knew  him  well  and  selected  him  as  one  of  the  first 
generals  chosen  from  civilians.  His  commission  &s  Brigadier  was 


276  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

dated  Slay  17th.  He  entered  the  service  to  help  crush  the  rebellion*,, 
and  right  well  he  knew  the  character  of  the  men  who  led  it.  He 
had  sounded  the  depths  of  pro-slavery  hate,  and  was  aware  that  it 
meant  the  destruction  of  the  Union  and  the  enslavement  of  the 
North.  On  the  15th  of  July,  1861,  he  issued  a  proclamation  to  the 
people  of  Northeastern  Missouri,  where  he  was  in  command,  in 
which  he  taught  the  restless  dupes  of  Claibourn  Jackson,  sound 
doctrine  in  words  of  unmistakable  import: — "The  time  for  the  tol 
eration  of  treason  has  passed,  and  the  man,  or  body  of  men,  who 
venture  to  stand  in  defiance  of  the  supreme  authority  of  the  Union, 
peril  their  lives  in  the  attempt."  He  pronounced  stern  retribution" 
upon  the  guerrilla  mode  of  warfare  invented  by  secession  infamy, 
He  gave  fair  warning  that  Missouri  courts  would  not  be  his  resort 
for  justice  in  such  cases,  but  that  rt  would  be  sought  and  adminis 
tered  through  the  swifter,  surer  agency  of  the  court-martial. 

They  soon  found  that  his  hand  was 

"  Gaimtletcd  in  glove  of  steel." 

In  command  on  the  line  of  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Jo.  Railroad,  and 
on  the  29th  of  July,  1861,  he  gave  the  wealthy  secessionists  notice 
of  his  purpose  to  keep  the  road  in  repair  at  their  expense.  That 
he  was  not  jesting  they  soon  learned.  A  train  was  fired  upon 
and  a  Mr.  Wilcox  disarmed.  Gen.  Hurlbut  marched  his  troops  into 
Palmyra,  county  seat  of  Marion  County,  and  issued  an  order  re 
quiring  the  citizens  to  deliver  to  Col.  Smith,  commanding  the  1 6th 
Illinois,  each  morning,  rations  as  follows : 

*' Salt  pork  or  bacon,  412  pounds,  or  in  lieu  thereof,  687  pounds 
fresh  beef;  corn  meal,  687  pounds ;  beans,  44  quarts,  or  55  pounds 
rice;  coffee,  55  pounds ;  sugar  (brown  dry),  8^  pounds;  vinegar, 
5|-  gallons ;  soap,  22  pounds ;  salt,  1 1  quarts ;  potatoes,  or  mixed 
vegetable  diet,  550  pounds ;  molasses,  2J  gallons ;  wood,  -J  cord ; 
corn  in  ear,  2  bushels."  He  farther  gave  the  authorities  notice  that 
if  these  things  were  not  delivered  promptly,  "'they  will  be  taken 
from  the  most  convenient  persons  and  places  and  the  regiment  will 
be  billeted  upon  the  city  of  Palmyra,  in  private  houses,  according 
to  the  convenience  of  the  regiment." 

In  addition  the  county  was  notified  that  it  would  be  required  to 
pay  the  expenses  of  the  transportation  of  the  regiment.  The  oecu- 


GUERRILLAS — SHILOH.  277 

pation  on  the  terms  of  the  order  to  continue  until  the  marauders 
were  given  up.  There  was  added  a  piece  of  grim  humor,  that  if 
the  county  authorities  declined  to  act,  or  cannot  be  found,  those  of 
the  city  must  "fill  the  order  and  render  their  charges  against  the 
county." 

This  did  not  prove  sufficient  to  cure  the  marauding,  and  he  issued, 
on  the  19th  of  August,  an  order  to  the  mayor  and  authorities  of 
Palmyra  to  "  deliver  within  six  days  the  marauders  who  fired  on 
the  train  bound  west  on  the  Hannibal  &  St.  Joseph  railroad,  on  the 
evening  of  the  16th  inst.,  and  broke  into  the  telegraph  office.  If 
the  guilty  persons  are  not  delivered  up  as  required,  and  within  the 
time  herein  specified,  the  whole  brigade  will  be  moved  into  your 
county  and  contributions  levied  to  the  amount  of  $10,000  on  Marion 
County,  and  $5,000  on  the  city  of  Palmyra." 

It  was  essential,  and  it  was  truly  humane,  early  to  teach  those 
" borderers"  that  treason  was  costly;  that  its  indulgence  was  incom 
patible  with  bath  duty  and  safety.  This  promptness  in  settling 
accounts  has  marked  General  Huiibut's  administration  wherever  he 
has  been  charged  with  the  duties  of  military  administrator. 

After  the  capture  of  Donelson  he  was  temporarily  in  command  at 
that  post.  In  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  he  was  in  charge  of 
the  fourth  division  of  General  Grant's  army,  placed  across  the 
Corinth  road,  and  which  was  brought  into  action  early  on  Sunday, 
fought  through  that  day  with  desperate  courage,  and  on  Monday 
morning  at  eight  o'clock  was  re-formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  after 
eating  a  few  crackers,  again  plunged  into  the  sea  of  fire. 

Official  and  unofficial  reports  alike  concur  in  honoring  the  bravery 
of  this  division  and  the  gallantry  and  ability  of  its  commanding 
General.  Mounted  on  his  gray,  he  rode  along  the  ranks,  a  prominent 
target  for  the  enemy's  fire.  lie  personally  superintended  the  plant 
ing  and  directing  of  new  batteries,  and  personally  headed  his  light 
brigades  in  tho  desperate  charge.  On  the  second  day,  his  gray 
which  ha:l  become  a  mark  for  rebel  riflemen  was  killed,  greatly  to 
the  relief  of  the  General's  staff,  though  to  his  own  grief.  It  is  not 
proper  to  re-write  what  is  found  in  the  previous  chapter,  and  which 
would  be  necessary  to  give  the  details  of  Hurlbut's  division.  A 
member  of  the  staff,  says;  "The  General  had  several  narrow 


278  PATRIOTISM  OF  LILINOIS. 

escapes.  He  was  struck  by  a  spent  musket  ball  on  his  left  arm,  but 
save  that  received  no  personal  injury.  The  writer  saw  a  riiL'-shot 
strike  a  tree  within  a  few  feet  of  his  head,  eliciting  from  him  the 
remark,  4  They  have  our  range  pretty  well.'  At  another  time  a  shell 
burst  within  ten  feet  of  him,  but  he  was  not  scratched  by  it.  His 
courage  and  coolness  under  fire,  and  his  entire  disregard  for  his  per 
sonal  safety,  were  remarked  by  all  under  him,  and  by  his  bravery 
and  skill  in  this  engagement,  he  has  won  the  love  and  confidence  of 
the  brave  troops  under  his  command." 

For  bravery  on  this  field,  he  was  promoted  Major-General  of  vol 
unteers,  with  commission  dating  from  September  17,  1862. 

While  other  troops  fought  the  bloody  battle  of  Corinth,  Major- 
General  Huribut  marching  from  Bolivar  and  with  Major-General  Ord 
fell  upon  the  enemy's  rear  at  the  Hatchie.  General  Grant  says  in 
his  official  report,  these  divisions  "drove  the  enemy  back  and  across 
the  Hatchie  over  ground  where  it  is  almost  incredible  that  a  superior 
force  should  be  driven  by  an  inferior,  capturing  two  of  his  batteries 
(eight  guns)  many  hundred  small  arms,  and  several  hundred  pris 
oners.  "  To  these  two  divisions  of  the  army  all  praise  is  due  and 
will  be  awarded  by  a  grateful  country." 

The  battles  of  luka,  Corinth  and  the  Hatchie  were  part  of  one 
grand  engagement  and  will  be  examined  farther  on. 

It  has  been  the  fortune  of  General  Huribut  to  mingle  in  other 
battle  scenes  yet  to  come  in  review  and  also  -to  have  command  of 
the  important  post  of  Memphis.  At  present  he  is  in  command  of 
the  important  Department  of  the  Gulf,  where  his  eminent  adminis 
trative  abilities  have  full  scope.  None  can  deny  him  the  meed  of 
the  true  soldier  and  the  successful  commander,  for  he  has  been  fully 
tested.  We  shall  meet  him  in  later  campaigns. 

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL  ELLIS. 

Among  those  who  fell  at  Shiloh  was  Edward  F.  W.  Ellis,  Lieut 
enant-Colonel  commanding  the  15th  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers. 
He  was  born  in  Milton,  Maine,  April  15,  1819.  He  was  a  tall,  noble 
looking  man  of  much  decision  and  positiveness.  He  came  to  Ohio 
when  nineteen  years  of  age,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  twenty- 
two-.  In  1849  he  went  to  California,  where  he  was  unfortunate  in 


LIEUT.-COL.    ELLIS.  279 

commercial  speculation  and  lost  all.  He  then  resumed  the  profession 
with  ma.'kvrcl  success.  In  the  year  1851  he  was  a  member  of  the 
California  Leg  >1  iture,  and  fought  the  effort  to  sh.-Uow  tlie  Gol 
den  Coast  with  the  curse  of  slavery.  In  1852  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  and  in  1854  removed  to  Rocktbrd,  Illinois,  and  was  asso 
ciated  with  si  banking  firm.  When  war  came  he  promptly  gave 
himself  to  his  country,  and  raised  for  the  15th,  a  comp.vny  called 
the  Ellis  Rifle-.  He  was  chosen  Lieutenant-Colonel,  bat  Col. 
Turner  bei  ig  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade,  he  was  acting 
Colonel.  AL  the  b  ittle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  the  15th,  LL-utenant- 
Colonel  Ellis  c.mi  nauding,  was  in  the  2d  brigade,  Colonel  Veatch 
commanding,  of  Hurlbut  s  Division.  The  line  in  front,  on  M  m  lay 
morning  bec.mie  panic-stricken  and  stampeded  through  the  lines  of 
the  15th  ;in;l  46th  Illinois — broke  without  an  effort  at  resistance, 
General  Hurlbut  says  "  without  firing  a  shot."  The  15th  was  left 
exposed  to  a  terrible  fire,  which  it  met  and  gallantly  returned. 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Ellis  cheered  his  men  forward,  but  was  struck  in 
the  breast  by  a  ball  and  killed  instantly. 

The  next  in  command,  Major  Goddard,  a  brave  soldier  and  gallant 
gentleman  met  a  similar  fate,  falling  bravely  at  his  post.  The  regi 
ment  was  compelled  to  fall  back. 

The  city  of  Rockford  mourned  the  death  of  Col.  Ellis  with  deep 
sorrow.  His  future  promised  distinction.  Major  Goddard  was 
worthy  of  his  post  and  together  they  went  down  to  the  soldier's 
grave. 

Colonel  Ransom  reports  among  the  names  mentioned  with 
honor,  that  of  Captain  Henry  H.  Carter,  of  Company  K,  llth  111., 
"who,  with  his  company,  so  bravely  cut  his  way  through  the  rebel 
cavalry  at  Fort  Donelson,  was  among  the  first  to  fall  on  this  bloody 
field,  mortally  wounded.  A  good  man,  a  true  soldier,  his  loss  is 
irreparable." 

Major  Nevieus,  of  the  same  regiment,  was  severely  wounded, 
but  rallied  sufficiently  to  assume  command  when  Colonel  Ransom 
was  so  badly  wounded  as  to  be  compelled  to  submit  to  removal 
to  the  rear.  "  Capt.  Coats  and  Lieut.  Walrod  were  also  wounded. 
Lieut.  Freed,  commanding  Co.  A,  whose  coolness  and  bravery  al 
ways  made  his  command  invincible,  was  borne  to  the  rear  during 
the  first  engagement,  severely  and,  I  fear,  mortally  wounded." 


280  PATKIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

"Acting  Quartermaster  Goodrich,  ever  faithful  to  Ms  trust,  a 
brave  soldier,  was  shot  by  my  side,  through  the  head." 

Col.  Hare,  commanding  the  first  brigade  of  the  first  division 
(W.  H.  L.  Wallace's)  says : 

*'  Major  Samuel  Eaton,  of  the  18th  Illinois,  was  badly  wounded 
while  commanding  his  regiment.  Captain  Daniel  H.  Brush,  next  in 
command,  was  soon  after  severely  wounded.  Captain  W.  Q.  Dil 
lon,  of  Co.  C,  arrived  on  the  field  at  this  moment  and  took  com 
mand,  but  was  almost  instantly  killed.  From  that  time  the  regiment 
was  led  by  Captain  Anderson,  who  did  his  duty  nobly." 

General  Hurlbut  mentions  with  pride  the  heroism  of  Col.  John 
A.  Davis,  of  the  46th,  who  rallied  his  regiment  in  the  terrible  fire 
when  Ellis  went  down,  and,  who,  seeing  the  color-bearer  fall,  seized 
and  carried  off  the  colors,  receiving  in  so  doing  a  severe  wound. 
He  states  that  Colonel  Pugh,  of  the  41st  Illinois  was  unexpectedly 
called  to  comnvind  a  brigade,  "and  led  it  steadily  and  well  through 
the  battle."  He  says:  "Colonel  A.  K.  Johnston,  28th  Illinois,  was 
under  my  eye  during  both  days.  I  bear  willing  testimony  to  the 
perfect  coolness  and  thorough  handling  of  his  regiment  throughout 
the  whole  time." 

Colonel  John  Logan  was  severely  wounded  on  Sunday,  and  the 
Lieut. -Colon el  of  the  41st  fell  about  the  same  time,  both  in  dis 
charge  of  duty." 

General  Me  Cook  honorably  mentions  Colonel  Kirk,  of  the  34th 
Illinois,  who  commanded  a  brigade,  as  a  brave  and  competent  offi 
cer.  When  the  Mvjor  commanding  the  34th  fell,  "the  regiment 
wavered  for  a  moment,  when  Colonel  Kirk  seized  a  flag,  rushed  for 
ward,  and  steadied  the  line  again ;  while  doing  this  he  was  severely 
wounded  in  the  shoulder." 

Major  Levanway,  a  noble,  scholarly  gentleman,  a  popular  lawyer, 
was  greatly  beloved  by  the  men  of  the  34th,  f.-ll,  killed  instantly. 
General  McCook  said:  "The  gallant  Levanway,  foremost  in  the 
ranks  of  danger,  was  killed  instantly  by  a  grape-shot.  His  name  is 
another  bright  one  added  to  the  list  of  illustrious  Illinois  dead,  who 
have  dared  to  do  and  die  in  the  cause  of  the  Republic.  To  him 
and  the  brave  ones  who  sleep  with  him,  the  nation  owes  the  holy 
debt  of  remembrance." 


COLONEL   EAITH.  281 

Gen.  Sherman  reports  the  severe  wounding  of  Col.  Julius  Ruith, 
of  the  43cl  Illinois,  a  native  of  Germany,  but  who  came  *o  this  State 
in  1838,  when  he  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age.  He  served  as 
Capt.iin  with  distinction  in  Col.  BisselFs  regiment  during  the  war 
with  Mexico.  He  entered  into  the  cause  of  the  Union  with  hearty 
earnestness  and  was  instrumental  in  raising  the  43d,  and  entered  the 
service  as  its  Colonel  in  October,  1861.  On  that  memorable  Sun 
day  at  Shiloh,  he  led  a  brigade  made  up  of  the  17th,  29th  and  49th 
Illinois.  The  brigade  was  assigned  to  the  immediate  defense  of 
Waterhouse's  battery.  Appier's  regiment  broke  in  confusion,  and 
was  followed  by  Manger's,  leaving  the  battery  exposed.  The 
enemy  rushel  forward  in  overwhelming  numbers,  but  the  three 
regiments  stood  their  ground  under  the  terrific  rebel  fire,  until  the 
commander,  Col.  Raith,  fell  from  his  horse,  shot  above  the  knee  by 
a  minnie  ball,  when,  to  use  Gen.  Sherman's  words,  "  they  manifested 
disorder"  and  three  of  Waterhouse's  guns  were  captured.  The 
brave  Colonel  lay  twenty-four  hours  on  the  field,  and  when  picked 
up  was  in  a  feeble  and  exhausted  condition.  He  was  conveyed  to 
the  steamer  Hannibal,  anl  on  the  way  to  the  Mound  City  Hospital 
his  leg  was  amputated.  He  never  rallied,  but  died  on  the  llth  of 
April  of  tetanus  or  lock-jaw. 

General  Sherman  says,  "  Major  Sanger's  intelligence,  quick  per 
ception  and  rapid  execution  were  of  great  value  to  me.  He  also 
compliments  Major  Taylor,  chief  of  cavalry,  highly. 

General  Veatch  says :  "  Col.  Hall  of  the  14th  Illinois,  with  his 
regiment,  led  that  gallant  charge  on  Monday  evening,  which  drove 
the  enemy  beyond  our  lines  and  closed  the  struggle  on  that  memor 
able  day.  In  the  heat  of  the  battle  he  exhibited  the  skill  and  firm 
ness  of  a  veteran." 

All  the  reports  recognize  the  efficiency  of  the  Illinois  artillery 
throughout  both  the  eventful  days  of  Shiloh.  Waterhouse  was  left 
without  supports,  and  with  his  battery,  that  scorned  to  retreat, 
fought  for  a  terrible  half  hour  with  an  enemy  closing  upon  each 
flank  and  bearing  down  upon  the  front,  when  he  retreated,  seriously 
wounded  in  the  thigh  by  a  minnie  ball,  and  his  first  Lieutenant,  Ab 
bott,  also  wounded,  though  slightly,  bringing  off  only  three  guns. 


282  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Schwartz  fought  his  guns  beside  Waterhouse,  and  under  compul 
sion,  shared  the  retreat,  losing  most  of  his  guns. 

Taylor's  battery,  commanded  by  Captain  Barrett,  supported  gal 
lantly  by  tli3  22d  Illinois  infantry,  stood  firm,  sending  its  terrible 
fire  through  the  serried  lines  of  Beauregard,  until  battery  and  sup 
port  were  outflanked  on  both  sides,  when  they  retired  through  a 
heavy  cross-fire,  the  battery  losing  one  man  killed,  seventeen 
wounded,  twelve  horses,  the  forge  and  battery  wagons. 

Waterhouse  took  a  second  position  with  his  three  guns,  supported 
by  McClernand's  second  brigade,  and  was  again  compelled  to  re 
treat  and  again  advanced. 

The  rebels  well  knew  when,  on  the  parade  ground  of  the  first 
division,  Taylor's  battery  took  up  its  second  position  and  engaged 
in  a  duel  with  a  rebel  battery  eight  hundred  yards  in  front,  which  it 
silenced,  and  blew  up  its  caisson. 

In  the  Sunday  fight  Co.  A,  Chicago  Artillery,  Captain  Wood, 
was  so  much  cut  up  as  to  be  able  to  work  but  three  guns. 

Matteson's  and  Silversparre's  guns,  on  Sunday  afternoon,  effect 
ually  stayed  the  heavy  advancing  columns  of  Beauregard's  forces. 

As  to  Colonel  Webster,  all  accorded  him  the  meed  of  the  highest 
skill  and  coolest  decision.  Long  will  be  remembered  by  Southern 
leaders,  that  semi-circle  of  belching  cannon  he  placed  to  celebrate 
the  vespers  of  that  Sabbath  fight,  and  before  which  recoiled  the 
hosts  dashing  forward  to  "  drive  Grant  into  the  river." 

Col.  David  Stuart,  commanding  a  brigade,  was  severely  wounded. 
He  was  commended  for  bravery  and  capacity. 

In  the  last  bloody  effort  on  our  left,  the  famous  scout,  Carson, 
from  Chicago,  was  killed  instantly  by  a  cannon  ball  which  took  off 
his  head.  He  was  a  daring  and  skillful  scout,  making  his  way 
almost  at  pleasure  within  and  out  of  the  enemy's  lines. 

The  Illinois  57th,  Col.  Baldwin,  lost  heavily  after  exhibiting 
the  most  determined  bravery.  Major  N.  B.  Page,  of  Maiden,  was 
killed,  falling  in  the  heroic  discharge  of  duty.  He  was  mourned 
by  comrades  and  by  the  community  from  which  he  went  to  war. 
Five  Captains  were  wounded,  one  mortally;  three  Lieutenants  were 
wounded,  one  mortally. 

Captain  Lewis  Mauss,  a  noted  scientific  Chicago  occulist,  com- 


MEMORY    OF   SHILOH.  283 

nianding-  a  company  in  the  43d,  was  wounded  in  the  side  by  a  frag 
ment  of  shell  and  died  within  twenty-four  hours. 

Captain  E.  M.  Knapp,  of  the  52d,  was  killed  on  Sunday  as  he 
cheered  his  men  on  to  the  battle.  But  the  long  roll  cannot  be 
perfectly  made  at  this  time. 

Other  cases  of  merit  will  be  mentioned  in  the  record  of  regi 
ments  and  individuals.  In  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  Illinois  wrote  a 
glorious  historic  scroll.  Whatever  may  be  hereafter,  the  memory 
of  that  day,  with  its  proud  achievements,  can  never  be  taken  from 
her.  She  wrote  in  blood  a  chapter  that  can  never  be  obliterated. 
In  her  prairie  homes,  along  her  rivers,  among  her  graves,  and  in  her 
cities,  thousands  of  children  will  each  proudly  say,  "  My  father  was 
an  Illinois  soldier  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh !" 


OHAPTEE   XY. 

RECONNOISSANCE  ON  THE  CORINTH  ROAD — THE  MOVEMENT  ON  PURDY — THS  BATTLES  AT 
FARMING-TON — EVACUATION  OF  CORINTH,  AND  ITS  OCCUPATION  BY  THE  UNION  FORCES — 
CHANGES  IN  THE  ARMY— BATTLE  OF  IUKA— THE  REBEL  DEFEAT  AT  CORINTH— BAT 
TLES  OF  THE  HATCHIE. 

GENERAL  GRANT,  with  his  customary  tenacity  of  purpose 
jincl  rapidity  of  action,  did  not  rest  upon  the  success  achieved  at 
Shiloh.  On  the  8th  of  April,  Gen.  Sherman  with  his  cavalry  and 
two  brigades  of  infantry  made  a  reconnoissance  on  the  Corinth  road. 
The  rebel  cavalry  were  soon  overtaken  and  a  fight  immediately  oc 
curred.  The  rebels  charged  upon  our  skirmish  line  and  broke 
through  it,  putting  the  Ohio  Seventy-seventh  to  flight,  and  at  the  out 
set  throwing  Col.  Dickey's  Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry  into  disorder. 
Gen.  Sherman  sent  orders  to  the  rear  for  the  brigade  to  form  in  line 
of  battle.  The  broken  infantry  and  cavalry  rallied  on  this  line  and 
advanced,  Col.  Dickey's  gallant  regiment  leading  off  in  a  dashing 
charge  with  their  carbines.  The  rebels  broke  this  time  and  fled. 
The  troops  being  wearied  out  with  their  three  days'  hard  fighting, 
privations  and  exposures,  the  pursuit  was  given  up,  and  after  caring 
for  the  wounded  and  burying  the  dead,  they  returned  to  camp. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  another  reconnoissance  was  made  by  order 
of  Gen.  Grant  toward  Purdy,  a  small  town  twenty  miles  from  Cor 
inth,  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad.  The  force  consisting  of 
seven  regiments  of  infantry  including  the  Seventy-eighth  and  Twen 
tieth  Ohio,  two  batteries  of  artillery,  and  the  Fourth  and  Eleventh 
Illinois  and  Fifth  Ohio  Cavalry  were  commanded  by  Gen.  Wallace, 
and  belonged  to  his  division.  At  night  the  infantry  and  artillery 
bivouacked  in  the  woods  midway  between  Pittsburg  Landing  and 
Purdy,  while  the  cavalry  under  command  of  Col.  Dickey  continued 
on  toward  Purdy,  reaching  its  vicinity  about  midnight.  The  in- 


FAK^INGTON.  285 

ten'stf  darkness  of  the  night,  an  I  a  previous  sto;-m  which  set  in,  ren 
dered  operations  impossible,  and  the  force  returned  to  the  bivouac, 
The  next  morning,  however,  the  word  was  again  "  Forward,"  and 
our  cavalry  entered  Purdy.  Col.  Dickey  sent  a  sraull  force  to 
skirmish  two  miles  below  Purdy,  while  another  force  destroyed  the 
railroad  bridge  two  miles  ab:>ve  it.  The  work  was  accomplished. 
The  bridge  was  torn  up  and  the  connection  between  Purdy  and 
Corinth  completely  destroyed.  The  object  of  the  expedition  having 
been  accomplished,  the  troops  returned  to  camp  on  the  29th,  with 
out  the  loss  of  a  man  by  the  enemy.  Many  a  brave  Illinois  soldier 
however,  fell  a  victim  to  the  exposures  of  that  night  in  the  storm 
and  swamps. 

The  third  reconnoissance  developed  the  battle  of  Farmington,  in 
'tirhich  Illinois  generals  and  Illinois  soldiers  again  shone  conspicuous 
ly.  On  the  3d  of  May,  our  forces  had  scarcely  got  into  their  new 
camp  between  Hamburg  and  Corinth,  befoi'c  the  order  came  for  a 
reconnoissance  in  force.  Generals  Paine  and  Palmer  were  detailed 
for  the  work.  The  regiments  selected  were  almost  entirely  from 
Illinois,  comprising  the  Tenth,  Sixteenth,  Twenty-second,  Twenty- 
seventh,  Forty-second  and  Fifty-first  Illinois,  the  Yates  Sharpshoot 
ers  (Illinois),  Houghteling's  Illinois  Battery,  Hezcock's  Ohio  Bat 
tery,  the  Sixteenth  Michigan  Infantry  and  Second  Michigan  Caval 
ry.  The  column  proceeded  but  five  miles  on  the  Farmington  road, 
when  a  rebel  force  was  encountered  and  the  battle  commenced. 
The  rebel  pickets  were  soon  driven  in»  Our  forces  pushed  on  and 
were  met  with  a  sharp  fire  from  behind  the  fallen  trees.  The  gal 
lant  riflemen  of  the  Yates  Sharpshooters  drove  thetn  from  the  abate 
tis,  and  thus  they  were  pushed  from  point  to  point  for  two  miles,  un 
til  an  eminence  was  reached^  from  which  the  rebel  artillery  com 
manded  the  road.  The  Tenth  Illinois  and  the  Yates  Sharpshoot 
ers,  however,  flanked  them  and  they  retreated  under  a  most  galling 
fire  to  a  second  position  on  the  crest  of  a  hill.  Houghteling's  guns 
came  up  on  the  double  quick  and  opened  a  murderous  fire,  and 
again  the  rebels  fled  to  a  new  position,  half  a  mile  further  on  and 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  Farmington.  Iloughteling's  Battery 
immediately  moved  to  the  rebel  left,  and  Hczcock's  Battery  to  the 
right.  Their  concentrated  fire  was  soon  too  terrible  for  any  troops 


286  PATRIOTISM   OlF   ILLINOIS. 

to  endure,  and  the  rebels  broke  and  fled  toward  Corinth  hi  confu 
sion,  pursued  by  our  cavalry.  Our  loss  was  only  two  killed  and 
eleven  wounded;  the  enemy's  thirty  killed  and  many  wounded. 

Farmington  was  in  our  possession,  but  the  main  battle  was  yet  to 
come.  On  the  9th,  the  enemy  twenty  thousand  strong,  drove  in  our 
pickets  beyond  Farmington,  and  advanced  upon  the  forces  under 
Generals  Palmer  and  Paine  evidently  with  the  intention  of  flanking 
them  and  cutting  them  off  from  the  main  army*  Gen.  Paine  at  once 
engaged  them,  and  for  five  hours  the  battle  was  continuous  and 
fiercely  waged.  Gen.  Halleek's  orders,  however,  were  peremptory 
that  a  general  engagement  should  not  be  brought  on.  In  accord 
ance  with  these  instructions,  Gen.  Paine's  troops  fell  back  after 
stubbornly  disputing  the  enemy's  advance  and  finding  out  their 
strength.  The  enemy  made  a  demonstration  to  pursue,  but  aban 
doned  the  movement.  Our  loss  in  the  engagement  was  twenty-one 
killed,  one  hundred  and  forty  wounded,  and  ten  missing.  Among 
the  killed  was  the  brave  Lieut.-Col.  Miles  of  the  Forty-seventh  111 
inois.  His  leg  was  crushed  by  a  cannon  ball,  and  he  died  in  a  short 
time  from  hemorrhage*  Major  Zenas  Applington  of  the  7th  Illinois 
cavalry  also  fell  mortally  wounded  while  gallantly  leading  his  regi 
ment.  The  Illinois  regiments  engaged  in  this  fight  were  the  42d, 
Col  Roberts;  27th,  Lieut.-Colonel  Harrington;  22d,  Lieut.-ColoiioJ 
Hart;  51st,  Lieut.-CoL  Bradley;  26th,  Col.  Loomis;  and  47th,  Col. 
Bryner.  It  was  pre-eminently  an  Illinois  bivttle,  and>  although  fight 
ing  at  fearful  odds  (nearly  six  to  one)  the  luster  of  her  achieve 
ments  was  in  no  wise  dimmed* 

On  the  21st  of  May  another  armed  reconnoissance  Avas  made  by 
the  2d  division,  commanded  by  Brig.-General  Thomas  A.  Davis> 
Which  fought  a  battle  with  the  enemy's  advance  line  on  PhillipV 
Creek,  resulting  in  their  rout  and  the 'occupation  of  a  new  and  ad 
vantageous  position  by  our  forces.  The  same  day  another  recon 
noissance  was  made  by  Col.  Sedgwick's  brigade,  which  was  suc 
cessful  in  ascertaining  the  position  of  a  part  of  the  enemy's  line* 
During  all  these  reconnoissances  and  battles  between  disjointed 
fragments  of  either  army,  the  main  army  of  Gen.  Halleck  was  ad 
vancing  slowly  and  cautiously,  throwing  out  successive  parallels,  as 
if  a  siege  of  the  works  at  Corinth  were  intended.  The  railroad 


INTO   CORINTH.  287 

cominii.ii nation  to  tlio  northward  and  southward  of  Corinth  had 
been  destroyed  at  Purdy  and  Glendale.  To  complete  the  severance 
of  communication  and  thereby  prevent  reinforcements  reaching  the 
rebels,  Ge.i.  Halleck  directed  that  the  railroad  to  the  southward  of 
Cori.ith  and  in  tlie  direction  of  Mobile  should  be  destroyed.  This 
was  elf.  cled  on  the  night  of  the  30th  by  Col.  Elliott.  On  the  28th, 
three  s:  ron  g  reconnoitering  columns  advanced  on  the  right,  center  and 
left.  The  rebels  hotly  contested  the  ground  but  were  driven  at 
each  poi.it.  On  the  29th,  Gen.  Pope's  heavy  batteries  opened  upon 
the  ene  ny's  entrenchments  and  drove  the  rebels  from  their  ad 
vanced  battery,  and  at  the  same  time  Gen.  Sherman  established  a 
new  battery  within  a  thousand  yards  of  the  rebel  works. 

But  while  our  army  was  thus  slowly  and  cautiously  approaching 
Corinth,  the  enemy  were  rapidly  leaving  it.  The  sick  and  wounded 
Were  r, rawed,  on  the  26th.  On  the  27th,  Bragg  and  Beauregard 
made  their  arrangements  for  falling  back,  and  on  the  29th  it  was 
safely  accomplished.  With  an  army  entrenched  in  successive  strong 
parallel  .<,  with  heavy  siege  guns  converging  upon  eve"ry  part  of  their 
works,  with  the  Union  army  so  massed  that  it  could  sweep  down 
through  Farntington  and  obtain  complete  possession  of  the  Mobile 
and  Ohio  Uailroad,  with  the  Mississippi  River  open  and  Fort  Pillow 
evacuated  as  it  must  be  in  a  short  time,  it  would  have  been  sheer 
folly  for  Beauregard  to  wait  in  Corinth  and  expose  his  whole  army 
to  capture  or  annihilation.  On  Friday,  the  30th,  the  Union  forces 
entered  Corinth.  Desolation  and  destruction  were  on  every  hand* 
Burned  buildings  stood  on  every  street.  Huge  piles  of  commissary 
stores  were  still  smoldering  in  the  flames.  The  only  ammunition 
remaining  was  damaged  and  useless.  The  evacuation  was  com 
plete — so  complete  that  the  rebels  not  alone  successfully  withdrew, 
but  took  every  piece  of  ordnance  with  them. 

The  Illinois  troops  bore  an  honorable  and  conspicuous  part  in  the 
closing  scenes  around  Corinth.  A  brigade  from  Gen.  McClernand's 
division,  a  brigade  from  Gen.  Hurlbut's  division,  Gen.  John  A.  Lo* 
gan's  brigade,  and  two  brigades  of  Gen.  Sherman's  command  were 
prominent  in  the  fighting  of  the  last  two  days.  Waterhouse's  and 
Silversparre's  batteries  did  magnificent  execution.  Of  Gen.  Logan's 
efforts,  Gen.  Sherman  thus  speaks :  "  I  feel  under  special  obliga* 


tATKIOTlSM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

tions  to  this  officer,  who,  during  the  two  days  he  served  Under  mq 
held  the  critical  ground  on  my  right,  extending  down  to  the  rail 
road.  All  the  time  he  had  in  his  front  a  large  force  of  the  enemy, 
but  so  dense  was  the  fjliisre  that  he  could  not  reckon  their  strength 

o  o 

save  what  he  could  see  on  the  railroad  track."  Finally  it  was  re 
served  for  Lieut.  Baker,  of  the  Yates  sharpshooters,  to  be  the  first. 
man  in  the  rebel  works,  and  Col.  David  Stuart,  of  the  fighting  55th, 
claims  the  honor  of  first  raising  the  Stars  and  Stripes  over  Corinth; 

The  pursuit  of  the  retreating  rebels  was  vigorously  kept  up.  Gen* 
Pope's  cavalry  escort  pushed  after  them  and  had  a  brisk  skirmish, 
in  which  several  prisoners  were  captured.  A  bui-ning  bridge  ob 
structed  the  operations  of  this  force,  and  another  was  sent  out  by 
Gen.  Pope,  under  Gen.  Granger,  on  the  Booneville  road.  It  left 
Farmington  on  the  30th,  and  the  same  day  drove  out  the  rear  guard 
of  the  enemy  posted  on  Tuscumbia  Creek,  eight  miles  south  of  Cor 
inth.  Gen.  Granger  passed  Rienzi  only  two  hours  behind  the  re 
treating  enemy.  On  the  afternoon  of  June  1st,  the  rear  guard  was 
again  overtaken  near  Boonville.  Skirmishing  was  kept  up  on  the 
2d,  and  on  the  3d  a  rcconrioissance  was  made  toward  Baldwin  and 
the  rebels  driven  across  Twenty  Mile  Creek.  On  the  4th,  another 
reconnoissance  was  made  by  Col.  Elliott,  via  Blocklands,  with  similar 
results,  and  on  the  10th,  the  occupation  of  Baldwin  and  Guntovvn 
ended  the  chase. 

During  the  months  of  June  and  July,  important  changes  were 
made  in  the  army  at  Corinth.  On  the  10th,  Gen.  Buell  left  with  the 
main  body  of  his  army  for  Chattanooga,  to  counteract  the  designs 
of  Bragg,  who  had  massed  his  army  at  Chattanooga  and  Knoxville, 
by  suddenly  moving  his  force  from  Tupelo,  in  Mississippi,  through 
the  States  of  Alabama  and  Georgia,  thus  reaching  Chattanooga  in 
advance  of  Gen.  Bttcll.  On  ihe  27th  of  the  same  month,  Gem 
Pope  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
and  on  the  23d  of  July,  Gen.  Halleck  assumed  the  duties  of  General- 
in-Chief  of  all  the  armies  in  the  fiekL 

Nothing  of  interest  transpired  in  Gen.  Grant's  department  until 
August,  when  it  became  apparent  that  the  rebel  force  south  of  his 
position  were  threatening  his  line  between  Corinth  in  Mississippi 
and  Tuscumbia  m  Alabama  On  the  10th  of  September,  Colonel 


289 

Murphy^s  force  fell  back  from  Tuscumbia  upon  luka.  Here  he  was 
attacked  by  the  rebel  cavalry,  and  after  a  slight  resistance  fled  and 
took  up  a  position  at  Jacinto.  Gens.  Grant,  and  Rosecrans  who 
had  succeeded  Gen.  Pope,  acted  in  concert  to  check  the  movements 
of  Price,  one  force  moving  by  way  of  Brownsville  and  the  other  by 
way  of  Jacinto.  The  battle  of  luka  was  the  result  of  these  combi 
nations.  It  commenced  on  the  19th  with  an  attack  upon  Price  by 
Stanley's  and  Hamilton's  divisions  of  cavalry  a  short  distance  south 
of  the  village.  The  advance  pickets  of  the  enemy  were  driven  in 
by  the  third  Michigan  ^cavalry  dismounted.  Skirmishing  was  kept 
up  until  within  two  miles  of  luka,  when  the  enemy  made  a  furious 
attack.  Our  force  took  positions  under  a  terrible  fire  of  grape  and 
canister.  The  5th  Iowa,  26th  Missouri  and  48th  Indiana  with  the 
llth  Ohio  battery,  bore  the  brunt  of  the  attack  until  relieved  by  the 
4th  Minnesota  and  16th  Iowa.  The  attack  was  renewed  with  over 
whelming  numbers  and  with  great  fierceness.  The  10th  Iowa  and 
12th  Wisconsin  battery  were  hurried  into  position,  but  still  the  rebel 
force  vastly  outnumbered  ours.  Our  line  wavered  and  rallied. 
The  battery  was  taken  and  retaken  three  times,  and  the  fortune  of 
the  fight  trembled  in  the  balance.  Gen.  Stanley  threw  his  forces 
into  the  breach.  The  rebels  then  massed  against  the  left  flank  and 
tried  to  turn  it,  but  were  repulsed.  At  five  p.  M.,  our  forces  were 
all  in  position  and  from  that  time  until  dark  the  battle  was  fought 
with  a  bravery  almost  unequaled.  The  rebels  tried,  with  frantic 
desperation,  but  in  vain,  to  break  our  lines.  The  5th  Iowa  held  its 
ground  against  four  times  its  numbers,  making  three  desperate 
charges  with  the  bayonet,  driving  the  rebels  every  time,  and  only 
falling  back  when  every  cartridge  was  exhausted,  and  night  closed 
in  and  the  Union  army  held  the  battle  field. 

The  next  morning  Gen.  Rosecrans  ordered  the  picket  line  to  ad 
vance,  but  they  met  no  opposition.  The  whole  force  was  then 
thrown  forward  and  entered  luka  to  find  it  evacuated  by  Price,  who 
had  four  miles  the  start.  The  cavalry  kept  up  the  pursuit  until 
evening,  capturing  many  prisoners.  The  forces  of  Gens.  Grant  and  Ord 
returned  to  Corinth  on  the  22d,  and  the  Army  of  the  Mississippi  to 
Jacinto.  The  llth  Missouri,  which  did  some  of  the  most  glorious 
and  desperate  fighting  in  this  battle,  was  in  reality  an  Illinois  regi- 

19 


290  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

ment.  At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  regiment  the  quota 
of  Illinois  was  full,  and  rather  than  not  have  an  opportunity  of 
going  into  the  service  they  obtained  an  organization  under  the  laws 
of  Missouri. 

On  the  26th  Gen.  Rosecrans  proceeded  to  Corinth  and  took  com- 
mand  of  that  position,  Gen.  Grant  having  been  ordered  to  Jackson 
and  Gen.  Ord  to  Bolivar.  In  the  meantime  Price,  in  his  retreat,  had 
been  reinforced  by  Van  Dorn  and  Lovell,  and  the  combined  forces 
moved  against  Corinth.  On  the  night  of  the  3d  of  October,  the 
rebels  formed  their  line  within  a  thousand  yards  of  the  Union  posi 
tion  and  soon  after  day-break  on  the  4th  opened  a  furious  fire  on 
Corinth.  About  half  past  nine  the  rebels  massed  their  forces  and 
advanced  up  the  Bolivar  road  in  the  shape  of  a  wedge,  to  attack  a 
point  completely  covered  by  our  artillery.  In  spite  of  the  hideous 
rents  made  in  their  lines  they  continued  to  advance  and  suddenly 
extended  their  force  to  right  and  left  and  approached,  covering  the 
whole  field.  The  entire  Union  line  opened  fire  upon  them,  but  still 
they  advanced.  As  they  approached  the  crest  of  a  hill  where  Gen. 
Davis'  division  was  posted,  the  division  gave  way  in  disorder  and 
the  rebels  gained  possession  of  Gen.  Rosecrans'  head-quarters  and 
threatened  Fort  Richardson.  They  swarmed  up  the  hill  and  were 
swept  away.  They  rallied  and  again  attacked  the  redoubt  and  the 
battery  gave  way.  Then  Illinois  sprang  to  the  rescue.  The  56th 
Illinois,  rising  from  cover,  fired  a  deadly  volley  and  making  the  air 
ring  with  their  battle  shout,  charged  like  an  avalanche  upon  the 
rebels.  Nothing  could  withstand  this  superhuman  effort.  The 
rebels  broke  and  fled.  The  lost  ground  was  recovered  and  the 
whole  Union  line  again  advanced  to  its  old  position.  While  Price 
was  there  defeated,  Van  Dorn  was  attacking  on  the  left  the  batteries 
of  Williams  and  Robinett.  The  fight  at  these  points  was  fearful. 
The  llth  Missouri  (Illinois),  the  63d,  27th  and  39th  Ohio  regiments, 
supported  by  the  18th  U.  S.  artillery,  formed  into  line  and  the  reb 
els  rushed  upon  them.  A  furious  hand  to  hand  combat  ensued  and 
the  carnage  was  terrible.  Bayonets  were  used,  muskets  clubbed, 
and  men  were  felled  with  the  fist,  while  all  the  time  the  guns  of 
Robinett  were  pouring  grape  and  canister  into  the  rebel  ranks  with 
deadly  effect.  Our  forces  were  again  the  victors.  The  rebels  fled, 


ILLINOIS  TROOPS.  291 

howling  with  rage  and  despair,  Robinett's  guns,  double-shotted, 
hurling  death  and  destruction  into  their  ranks,  until  they  tied  hand 
kerchiefs  upon  sticks  and  begged  the  gunners  "for  God's  sake,  to 
stop."  The  enemy  were  defeated,  arms  were  thrown  away,  and  the 
retreat  became  a  rout.  •  The  rebels  lost  one'  thousand  four  hundred 
and  twenty-three  officers  and  men  killed,  between  four  and  five 
thousand  wounded,  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  sixty-eight 
prisoners,  three  thousand  three  hundred  and  fifty  stands  of  small 
arms,  fourteen  stands  of  colors,  two  pieces  of  artillery  and  an  im 
mense  amount  of  equipments  and  material.  Upon  our  side  General 
Oglesby  was  severely  wounded,  and  Gen.  Hackleman  killed.  Our 
entire  loss  in  officers  and  soldiers  killed  was  three  hundred  and  fif 
teen.  The  Illinois  regiments  engaged  were  the  26th,  Col.  Boomer ; 
the  56th,  Col.  Kirkham ;  7th,  Col.  Babcock ;  9th,  Col.  Mersey;  12th, 
Col.  Chetlain;  15th,  Lieut.-Col.  Swartwout;  52d,  Col.  Sweeney; 
57th,  Col.  Hurlbut;  47th,  Col.  Bryner,  (the  Major  in  command); 
26th,  Col.  Loomis. 

The  gallantry  of  Illinois  troops  was  specially  manifested  in  this 
battle,  which  was  one  of  the  most  hotly  contested  on  record.  The 
7th,  50th,  and  57th  Illinois  regiments  held  an  overwhelming  rebel 
force  in  check  for  an  hour,  and  subsequently  drove  the  same  force 
half  a  mile,  recapturing  several  sections  of  artillery  taken  from  us 
before.  Col.  Mower's  brigade  made  a  magnificent  charge  at  Bat 
tery  Robinett  and  routed  a  rebel  force  in  a  hand  to  hand  fight.  The 
52d  Illinois  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  fight  of  the  two  days.  On 
Saturday  they  made  a  splendid  charge  on  a  fort,  which  had  been 
taken  by  the  rebels.  Lieut. -Col.  Wilcox  cried  out:  "Those  big 
guns,  boys— forward !  double  quick,  march !"  and  on  they  went  like 
an  avalanche,  and  the  guns  were  again  ours  and  the  victory  ours. 

Among  the  Illinois  officers  killed  in  this  battle  were  Lieut.-Col. 
Thrush,  47th;  Adjutant  S.  A.  Brainard,  52d;  Lieut.  Henry  Easter- 
brook,  17th;  and  Capt.  G.  C.  Ward,  of  the  12th. 

Among  the  wounded  were  Gen.  Oglesby,  Gen.  Me  Arthur,  Col, 
Baldwin,  Major  Kuhn,  of  the  9th,  Adjutant  Klock,  of  the  9th, 
Capt.  Robinson,  of  the  50th,  and  Capt.  Wilcox,  of  the  52d. 

The  Yates'  Sharpshooters  lost  fearfully.  On  the  morning  of  the 
4th  they  were  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  strong ;  at  sunset  they 


PATRIOTISM   OF  ILLMOIS. 

were  only  one  hundred  and  sixty.  Seventy- three  of  their  number  h&d 
fallen  in  defence  of  the  flag.  Capt.  Grover  fell  mortally  wounded, 
while  cheering  on  his  command,  Cos.  B,  C  and  E,  who  were  de 
ployed  as  skirmishers.  Second  Lieutenant  C.  J.  Conger,  Co.  A, 
commanding  Co.  E,  was  wounded  in  the  leg  and  hip.  Capt.  J.  "W. 
Stewart,  Co.  D,  was  shot  through  the  thigh  by  a  minie  ball.  First 
Sergeant  Henry  I.  Clark,  Co.  E,  was  killed  by  a  wound  in  the 
bowels.  Co.  E  suffered  most,  having  lost  twenty-one  men. 

While  one  division  of  the  army  under  G-en.  Rosecrans  was  resist 
ing  and  putting  to  flight  the  rebel  hosts  at  Corinth,  another  from 
Bolivar,  under  Gens.  Hurlbut  and  Ord,  was  marching  against  their 
rear.  The  rebels  were  retreating  by  the  same  route  over  which 
they  had  advanced,  which  was  the  Chevalla  road.  To  ensure  their 
safety  it  was  necessary  for  them  to  cross  the  Tuscumbia  River  near 
Pocahontas,  and  a  body  of  troops  was  sent  to  guard  the  Hatchie 
River  bridge,  which  was  two  miles  from  the  bridge  across  the  Tus 
cumbia  River.  Ord  and  Hurlbut  overtook  this  force  on  the  5th, 
while  Rosecrans  and  McPherson  were  harassing  them  in  another 
direction,  and  constantly  capturing  prisoners  and  material  of  war. 
The  rebels  made  a  stand  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  but  so  im 
petuous  was  the  charge  of  our  men,  in  which  the  28th,  32d,  41st  and 
53d  Illinois  regiments  particularly  distinguished  themselves,  that 
they  were  soon  driven  back  and  across  the  Hatchie,  losing  two  bat 
teries  of  six  guns,  and  several  hundred  prisoners.  The  fight  was  of 
short  duration,  but  a  most  gallant  one.  Gen.  Ord,  in  his  official 
report,  says :  "  Gen.  Hurlbut  will  push  forward  to-morrow  morning, 
as  it  is  presumed  General  Rosecrans  is  harassing  the  rear  of  the 
enemy.  My  personal  staff,  Division-Surgeon  S.  R.  Davis,  Capt. 
Sharpe,  Lieut.  Brown,  A.  D.  C.,  and  Capt.  Houghtelmg,  2d  Illinois 
cavalry,  and  A.  D.  CM  were  by  turns  Colonels  of  regiments  and 
Captains  of  batteries,  cheering  and  leading  the  men  through  the 
thickest  of  the  fight.  They  always  took  the  shortest  line  to  danger 
on  the  field,  and  were  always  on  hand  when  wanted."  Gen.  Lau- 
man,  commanding  a  brigade,  in  his  official  report,  paid  the  highest 
compliments  to  the  gallantry  and  skill  of  Col.  Johnson,  of  the  28th 
Illinois,  Col.  Logan,  of  the  32d  Illinois,  Capt.  McClanahan  and 
Capt.  Earl,  of  the  53d  Illinois,  Lieut-Col.  Ritter  and  Major  Gillemr 


PRESIDENT'S  DISPATCH.  293 

of  the  28th  Illinois,  Lieut. -Col.  Hunter  and  Major  English,  of  the 
32d  Illinois,  and  to  Col.  Pugh,  of  the  41st  Illinois,  to  whom  was 
assigned  the  responsible  duty  of  protecting  the  rear.  Gen.  Grant 
issued  an  enthusiastic  general  order  thanking  and  congratulating  the 
army,  and  President  Lincoln  telegraphed  to  General  Grant  as  fol 
lows: 

WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Oct.  8,  1862. 

Major-  General  Grant  : 

I  congratulate  you  and  all  concerned  in  your  recent  battles  and 
victories.  How  does  it  all  sum  up  ?  I  especially  regret  the  death 
of  General  Hackleman,  and  am  very  anxious  to  know  the  condition 
of  General  Oglesby,  who  is  an  intimate  personal  friend. 

A.  LINCOLN. 

The  eulogies  were  not  unworthily  bestowed.  It  was  the  first  in 
stance  in  the  war,  of  a  soldierly  pursuit  of  the  enemy — the  first  time 
that  victory  was  decidedly  and  thoroughly  followed  up. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  the  troops  of  General  Grant  had  return 
ed  to  their  respective  positions,  and  General  Rosecrans  reported  at 
Cincinnati,  to  take  charge  of  a  force  collecting  for  a  new  campaign. 
But  General  Grant  did  not  remain  idle  long.  On  the  4th  of 
November,  he  advanced  to  Lagrange,  three  miles  east  of  Grand 
Junction  on  the  Cairo  and  New  Orleans  Railroad.  On  the  29th 
General  Hamilton's  corps  reached  Holly  Springs,  and  on  the  18th 
of  December,  General  Grant's  forces  encamped  at  Lumpkin's  Mills, 
seven  miles  north  of  the  Tallahatchie  River,  the  rebels  retiring  to 
the  river.  The  rest  of  the  month  was  devoted  to  skirmishing  and 
strategetic  moves.  General  Hovey,  with  his  army,  left  Helena  for  the 
purpose  of  flanking  the  rebel  forces  on  the  Tallahatchie,  but  they 
evacuated  their  works  and  retired  further  South,  pursued  by  our 
forces,  skirmishing  taking  place  at  Abbeville  and  Oxford.  The 
rebels  by  keeping  up  a  strong  rear  guard,  reached  Grenada.  In 
the  meantime  General  Hovey's  force  crossed  the  Tallahatchie  and 
cut  the  Mississippi  Central  Railroad.  His  forces  kept  in  the  advance 
and  next  cut  the  Mississippi  and  Tennessee  Railroad  near  Panola. 
All  these  movements  were  carried  out  with  little  or  no  opposition  on 
the  part  of  the  rebels,  and  General  Hovey  returned  to  Helena.  Their 
was  to  cause  the  rebels  to  evacuate  Grenada  and  fall  back  to 


294:  PATKIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

Canton.  On  the  20th,  the  rebels  attacked  the  Union  garrison  at 
Holly  Springs  and  captured  it,  and  the  same  day  made  an  attack  at 
Davis'  Mills,  which  was  gallantly  repulsed.  In  the  meantime  the 
rebel  General  Forrest  was  at  work,  cutting  General  Grant's  com 
munications.  Jackson,.  Trenton,  Humbolt  and  other  stations  on  the 
road  were  captured.  Grant  was  compelled  to  fall  back  to  Holly 
Springs,  and  a  detachment  of  10,000  men  was  sent  to  Gen.  Sherman 
to  aid  in  the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  thus  virtually  ending  the  cam 
paign  of  1862  in  Mississippi. 

Few  campaigns  in  the  war  have  been  marked  with  so  many  and 
desperate  battles,  or  with  so  much  valor  and  determination  upon 
either  side.  Few  victories  have  been  so  complete  or  so  well  fol 
lowed  up,  certainly  none  before  this  campaign.  It  marked  a  new 
epoch  in  the  history  of  the  war,  and  it  is  no  small  honor  to  the 
State  that  Illinois  contributed  so  much  to  the  general  result.  Nearly 
all  of  the  prominent  Generals — Grant,  McClernand,  Huiiburt,  Logan, 
Oglesby,  McArthur,  Pope  and  others  were  from  Illinois.  In  every 
battle  Illinois  soldiers  were  engaged  and  in  no  instance  proved 
themselves  unworthy  their  name — "  Ulini  " — "  men." 


GHAPTEE   XYL 

REGIMENTAL    SKETCHES. 

TITE  THIRTEENTH  INFANTRY — FIRST  ORGANIZED  FOR  THREE  YEARS — EARLY  SERVICES — 
BATTLES — MARCHES — OFFICERS — COLONEL  WYMAN — CHAPLAIN  NEEDHAM — 2d  CAT- 
ALRY — SCATTERED — DONELSON — MARCHES  AND  BATTLES — OFFICERS — COL.  MUDD — 
THE  22o  INFANTRY — CHARLESTON — BELMONT — SHILOH — NEW  MADRID — MARCHES — 
ENGAGEMENTS — COL.  DOUGHERTY — LIEUT.-COL.  SWANWICK — MAJOR  JOHNSON — THE 
FORTIETH. — ENLISTMENT — AT  PADUCAH — AT  SHILOH — CORINTH — MARCHES — OFFI 
CERS — FORTY-EIGHTH  INFANTRY — ORGANIZATION — DONELSON — MAJOR  STEPHENSON — 
MISSION  RIDGE — KNOXVILLE — RE-ENLISTED — COL.  GREATHOUSE. 

IN  chronicling  the  movements  of  single  regiments  there  must 
be  some  difference  in  the  space  allotted.  Some  regiments  have 
been  steadily  with  certain  corps  or  divisions,  and  the  movements  of 
the  army  tell  the  regimental  movements.  Others  have  been  more 
frequently  detached,  or  have  engaged  in  a  greater  variety  of  ser 
vice,  the  recital  of  which  lies  outside  of  the  great  movements  of  the 
army.  There  is  also  the  difference  of  accessibility,  the  material  for 
one  being  at  hand,  while  for  another  it  is  remote. 

We  here  introduce,  for  the  sake  of  variety,  some  sketches,  and 
others  will  follow  in  due  season.  The  history  of  Illinois  troops  is 
associated  with  all  the  great  campaigns  of  the  West,  and  the 
sketching  of  these  is  to  chronicle  the  gallantry  of  our  own  men. 

THIRTEENTH  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

This  regiment  has  the  honor  of  having  been  first  to  organize  and 
enter  the  field  under  the  President's  first  call  for  men  for  three 
years,  an  honor  it  has  not  dimmed  on  the  field.  It  has  marched 
many  miles,  been  in  the  hottest  fire  of  battle,  but  has  borne  an  un- 
dimmed  name. 


296  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 

Colonel,  John  B.  Wyman;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  B.  F.  Parks;  Major,  Adam  B. 
Gorgas;  Adjutant,  H.  T.  Porter;  Surgeon,  Samuel  C.  Plummer;  Assistant-Surgeon, 
David  H.  Law ;  Chaplain,  J.  C.  Miller ;  Quartermaster,  W.  C.  Henderson. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Henry  T.  Noble  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  Dement ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Benjamin  Gillrnan. 

Co.  B— Captain,  D.  R.  Bushnell ;  1st  Lieutenant,  G.  P.  Browne  ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Wm.  W.  Kilgour. 

Co.  C — Captain,  H.  M.  Messenger;  1st  Lieutenant,  N.  Neff ;  2d  Lieutenant,  Geo> 
B.  Sage. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Quincy  McNeil ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  M.  Beardsley  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  A.  T.  Higby. 

Co.  E— Captain,  F.  W.  Partridge;  1st  Lieutenant,  A.  J.  Brinkerhoff;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  G.  B.  Duvoll. 

Co.  F— Captain,  Z.  B.  Mayo;  1st  Lieutenant,  E.  F.  Dutton;  2d  Lieutenant,  R.  A. 
Smith. 

Co.  G — Captain,  G.  M.  Cole;  1st  Lieutenant,  W.  M.  Jenks;  2d  Lieutenant,  S.  M. 
Jackson. 

Co.  H — Captain,  G.  H.  Gardner;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edwin  Went;  2d  Lieutenant, 
E.  A.  Pritchard. 

Co.  I — Captain,  S.  W.  Wadsworth  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  J.  G.  Everest;  2d  Lieutenant 
I.  H.  Williams. 

Co.  K — Captain,  W.  Blanchard  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  M.  S.  Hobson ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
J.  J.  Cole. 

It  was  organized  at  Camp  Dement,  Dixon,  111.,  May  9,  1861, 
and  two  weeks  thereafter  mustered  into  the  United  States  service, 
and  was  first  of  the  three  years'  regiments  to  cross  the  Mississippi 
River.  During  the  summer  of  1861,  it  remained  at  Rolla,  Missouri, 
guarding  that  post,  for  it  being  a  depot  of  supplies,  was  constantly 
threatened  by  the  enemy.  Here  the  regiment  did  excellent  service 
in  suppressing  many  predatory  bands  that  invested  that  region 
within  a  radius  of  forty  miles ;  and  by  their  zealous  protection  of 
the  Union  people  who  had  suffered  from  their  cruel  and  relentless 
foes, inspired  this  persecuted  class  with  a  like  attachment  and  devo 
tion  to  the  cause  of  their  country.  While  here,  Colonel  Wyman 
succeeded  in  organizing  many  of  the  citizens  into  cavalry  compa 
nies  ;  and,  under  Gen.  Curtis,  these  intrepid  scouts  proved  them 
selves  the  most  daring  and  efficient  cavalry  in  the  Southwestern 
Army. 

In  October,  1861,  the  regiment  joined  the  army  under  General 


THE   THIRTEENTH.  297 

Fremont,  then  forming  at  Springfield,  Mo.,  and  their  admirable  con 
dition  and  efficiency  in  drill  being  marked  by  the  General,  they 
were  assigned  the  highest  post  of  honor  in  that  "  Grand  Army ;" 
but  on  the  arrival  of  Gen.  Hunter  the  plans  of  Gen.  Fremont  were 
entirely  changed,  and  this  regiment  returned  to  Holla. 

March  6,  1882,  it  was  sent  to  join  the  army  of  Gen.  Curtis,  and 
participated  in  that  terrible  march  across  the  country  to  Helena, 
Ark.,  during  which  journey  the  most  unparalleled  suffering  was  en 
dured  from  thirst,  heat  and  short  rations. 

December  26,  1862,  the  men  of  this  regiment  being  considered  as 
veterans,  were  placed  in  the  advance  of  General  Sherman's  army  in 
the  attack  on  Chickasaw  Bayou,  and  during  the  second  day's  fight 
lost  their  brave  Colonel,  who  was  shot  by  the  sharpshooters  of  the 
enemy.  On  the  29th,  the  terrible  charge  was  made  on  Gen.  S.  D. 
Lee's  entrenchments,  and  the  regiment  lost  one  hundred  and  seven 
ty-seven  men  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  They  soon  thereafter 
participated  in  the  attack  and  capture  of  Arkansas  Post.  They 
accompanied  Gen.  Steele  in  his  Greenville  expedition,  capturing 
and  destroying  immense  supplies  of  the  enemy,  and  subsequently 
proceeded  with  Gen.  Grant  by  way  of  Grand  Gulf  to  the  capture  of 
Jackson,  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  repossession  of  the  former  city. 

They  accompanied  General  Sherman  in  his  march  from  Corinth 
to  Tuscumbia,  being  for  one  week  daily  engaged  with  the  enemy. 
From  the  Tennessee  to  Lookout  Valley  their  division  was  the  rear 
guard  of  the  15th  Army  Corps,  and  frequently  they  were  engaged 
with  the  enemy  in  his  unsuccessful  attempts  to  capture  the  train. 

The  1st  division  of  the  15th  army  corps,  of  which  they  were  a 
part,  was  temporarily  assigned  to  Gen.  Hooker,  and  participated  in 
the  attack  and  capture  of  Lookout  Mountain,  the  battles  of  Mission 
Ridge  and  Ringgold  Gap.  At  Mission  Ridge  the  13th  captured 
more  than  its  own  aggregate  of  the  18th  Alabama  rebel  infantry, 
carrying  the  ISth's  battle  flag  in  triumph  from  the  field.  At  Ring- 
gold  Gap  they  were  the  first  to  engage  the  enemy,  and,  refusing 
relief,  were  the  last  to  leave  the  field.  Here  their  loss  was  sixty- 
three  killed  and  wounded. 

General  Hooker,  in  speaking  of  this  engagement,  says :  "  Their 
skirmishers  were  driven  in,  and  as  we  had  learned  the  position  of 


298  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

the  battery,  the  13th  Illinois  regiment,  from  the  right  of  "Wood's 
line,  was  thrown  forward  to  seize  some  houses  from  which  their 
gunners  could  be  picked  off  by  our  men.  These  were  heroically 
taken  and  held  by  that  brave  regiment."  After  speaking  of  the 
repeated  charges  of  the  enemy  to  drive  this  regiment  back,  he  con 
tinues — "the  13th  Illinois  all  the  time  maintaining  its  position  with 
resolution  and  obstinacy."  The  General  finishes  his  eulogy  on  this 
division  in  these  words,  "  It  has  never  been  rny  fortune  to  serve 
with  more  zealous  and  devoted  soldiers." 

The  following  is  from  Gen.  Osterhaus'  official  report : 

"  Strengthening  Col.  Cramer  by  skirmishers  from  the  12th  Mis 
souri  infantry,  I  sent  orders  to  that  officer  to  push  the  left  of  his 
line  well  forward,  and  at  the  same  time*  ordered  the  13th  Illinois 
(which  held  the  extreme  right)  to  advance  rapidly  over  an  open 
field  to  a  few  houses  in  front.  The  13th  Illinois  executed  the  order 
in  magnificent  style.  They  charged  through  a  hail-storm  of  balls, 
and  gained  the  position  assigned  to  them,  and  held  it,  although  the 
enemy  poured  a  murderous  fire  into  these  brave  men  from  the  gorge 
in  front,  and  the  hill  on  the  right." 

Speaking  of  the  desperate  charges  repelled  by  the  obstinate  brav 
ery  of  these  men,  he  concludes  his  allusion  to  the  13th  in  the  fol 
lowing  language:  "The  13th  Illinois  remained  undaunted,  keeping 
up  a  vehement  fire." 

This  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  post  of  1st  regiment,  1st  brig 
ade,  1st  division,  15th  army  corps;  but  changed  to  the  3d  division 
in  April  as  their  time  had  nearly  expired.  On  the  17th  inst.,  they 
were  completely  surprised  and  entirely  surrounded  by  a  portion  of 
Roddy's  command  at  Madison  Station,  Alabama.  The  surprise  was 
occasioned  by  the  enemy  advancing  on  the  pickets  clothed  in  United 
States  uniform.  After  two  hours'  hard  fighting  against  immense 
odds  the  regiment  was  compelled  to  abandon  the  station,  breaking 
through  the  enemy's  line.  The  enemy  had  three  pieces  of  artillery 
with  from  1,000  to  1,500  cavalry  and  infantry.  The  regiment  at 
this  time  only  numbered  350  men  for  duty.  Sixty-six  pickets  and 
skirmishers  were  captured  by  the  enemy.  The  enemy's  loss,  as  re 
ported  by  flag  of  truce,  was  sixty  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
One  out  of  the  four  prisoners  taken  from  the  enemy  has  died  from 


THE   THIRTEENTH.  299 

his  wounds,  leaving  the  killed  and  wounded  of  the  enemy  as  high  as 
fifty-seven.  » 

It  is  due  to  one  officer  of  the  13th  to  state  a  fact  or  two.  The 
chaplain  at  the  time  the  regiment  went  out  of  service  was  Rev. 
Arnold  T.  Needham.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  enlisted 
as  a  private.  He  was  subsequently  promoted  as  sergeant  for 
bravery.  By  his  active,  yet  unobtrusive  piety,  his  zeal  in  caring  for 
the  wounded  and  dying,  he  had  so  won  upon  the  officers  of  the  regi 
ment  that  they  recommended  his  appointment  to  that  office,  although 
he  was  not  even  a  licentiate.  Leave  of  absence  was  granted ;  he 
returned  to  his  home  in  Chicago,  was  licensed  and  ordained,  and 
received  his  commission.  Chaplain  Needham  is  a  devoted  Chris 
tian  minister,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  enlistment,  he  en 
tered  the  Rock  River  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episco 
pal  Church,  and  was  appointed  to  a  pastoral  charge,  where  he  gives 
full  proof  of  his  ministry.  This  regiment  entered  the  service  with 
1,010  men,  since  which  time  it  has  received  fifty-five  recruits.  The 
aggregate  when  mustered  out  was  five  hundred,  leaving  their  loss  at 
five  hundred  and  sixty. 

In  the  summer  of  1 864,  worn  down  with  the  hardships  and  haz 
ards  of  three  years'  active  campaigning,  having  traveled  through 
seven  Southern  States,  marched  more  than  3,000  miles,  fought  for 
the  flag  and  the  Union  in  twenty  battles  and  skirmishes,  the  scarred 
veterans  of  the  13th  came  home  and  were  received  with  a  grand 
welcome.  Such  men  deserve  to  live  in  the  hearts  and  affections  of 
the  people  for  whom  they  have  fought. 

It  is  estimated  that  a  majority  of  the  13th  veterans  have  re-enlisted 
and  are  again  in  the  field.  Appended  is  the  roster  at  the  time  the 
regiment  went  out  of  service  : 

O 

Colonel,  Adam  B.  Gorgas;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Frederick  W.  Partridge;  Major, 
James  M.  Beardsley ;  Adjutant  (acting),  Joseph  M.  Patterson ;  Quartermaster,  John 
S.  McClary ;  Surgeon,  Samuel  C.  Plummer ;  Assistant  Surgeon,  Charles  A.  Thomp 
son  ;  Chaplain,  Arnold  T.  Needham. 

Co.  A — A.  Judson  Pinkham,  Captain;  Mark  M.  Evans,  First  Lieutenant. 

Co.  B — George  P.  Brown,  Captain  ;  Joseph  M.  Patterson,  1st  Lieutenant ;  John  S. 
Russell,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Co.  C — George  B.  Sage,  Captain  ;  Simeon  F.  Josselyn,  1st  Lieutenant. 

Co.  D— Matthew  McCullough,  Captain ;  Albert  T.  Higby,  First  Lieutenant 


300  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

Co.  E.— George  E.  Carpenter,  Captain ;  William  Wallace,  1st  Lieutenant ; 
Benjamin  J.  Gifford,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Co.  F — Azro  A.  Buck,  Captain;  Theodore  Loring,  1st  Lieutenant. 

Co.  G — William  M.  Jeuks,  Captain ;  Silas  M.  Jackson,  1st  Lieutenant. 

Co.  H— Edwin  Went,  Captain ;  Ethan  A.  Pritchard,  1st  Lieutenant ;  Jesse  I) 
Pierce,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Co.  I — James  G.  Everest,  Captain  ;  Robert  Rutherford,  2d  Lieutenant. 

Co.  K — Jordon  J.  Cole,  Captain;  Eli  Bailey,  1st  Lieutenant. 

Among  the  early  slain  of  much  promise  was  Colonel  John  B. 
Wyman,  whose  blood  was  offered  upon  its  altar — a  costly  libation. 
Colonel  John  B.  Wyman,  of  the  13th,  was  born  in  Shrewsbury, 
July  12,  1817.  He  had  an  early  fondness  for  military  life,  and  was 
Lieutenant  of  the  Shrewsbury  Rifle  Company.  Removing  to  Cin 
cinnati  he  entered  the  "  Citizens'  Guards,"  remaining  with  the  organi 
zation  three  years,  under  command  of  Captain,  later  Major- General 
O.  M.  Mitchell,  the  gifted  astronomer  and  author.  Removing  to 
Worcester,  Mass.,  he  became  a  member  and  soon  thereafter  a 
Lieutenant  in  the  Worcester  City  Guards,  and  later  he  was  1st 
Lieutenant  in  the  Springfield  City  Guards  (Mass.).  In  1848  he  held 
a  position  on  the  Ne\v  York  and  New  Haven  Railroad,  and  resid 
ing  in  the  city  of  New  York  he  served  two  years  in  the  well  known 
New  York  Light  Guards.  In  1850  he  was  Superintendent  of  the 
Connecticut  River  Railroad,  and  on  the  reorganization  of  the 
Springfield  Light  Guards,  was  chosen  their  captain,  and  commanded 
them  two  years  and  a  half. 

Then  he  removed  to  the  West,  and  was  appointed  Assistant  Super 
intendent  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  February,  1853.  He  ren 
dered  efficient  service  in  the  construction  and  operation  of  this  great 
road,  built  in  faith  of  the  future  development  of  the  great  prairies 
through  which  it  stretches  its  way. 

The  next  year  the  Chicago  Light  Guards  was  organized,  a  band 
of  admirable  citizen  soldiers,  and  Superintendent  Wyman  was 
chosen  captain,  and  served  as  such  three  years,  when  he  resigned. 
He  was,  however,  re-elected  in  1858. 

Discontinuing  the  service  of  the  I.  C.  R.  R.  he  entered  into  pri 
vate  business  at  Amboy,  Lee  County,  Illinois,  where  he  had  his 
home.  His  neighbors  found  him  a  man  of  activity  artfr  industry. 
They  felt  his  energy. 


COLONEL  WYMAtf.  301 

When  War  came  he  at  once  offered  his  services  to  the  govern 
ment.  He  felt  his  vocation  was  war  until  peace  should  become 
honorable,  and  that  one  who  had  so  fully  made  arms  his  study 
should  now  make  arms  his  vocation. 

He  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  13th,  but  was  retained  for  a 
time  in  the  office  of  the  Adjutant- General,  and  did  not  join  his  regi 
ment  until  the  14th  of  June,  1861* 

A  reference  to  the  movements  of  the  Confederates,  and  a  glance 
at  the  map  will  show  the  importance  of  Rolla  in  the  early  part  of 
the  war.  It  was  the  terminus  of  the  southwestern  branch  of  the 
Pacific  Railroad  and  was  the  point  d,  appui  of  southwestern  Mis 
souri  and  Arkansas.  On  holding  it  and  its  approaches,  depended 
questions  of  subsistence  and  transportation.  There  was  much  to  be 
done,  and  the  military  skill  and  business  capacity  of  the  command 
ant  was  to  be  severely  tested.  Colonel  Wyman  was  ordered  to  that 
post  and  with  his  regiment  arrived  there  July  7,  1861.  For  eight 
months  he  performed  its  duties  to  the  satisfaction  of  government. 

The  regimental  sketch  given  above  shows  how  much  he  was 
called  to  endure  and  do,  as  he  led  the  13th  along  its  many  miles 
of  travel,  and  into  the  midst  of  battle.  He  became  commander  of 
a  brigade  of  picked  troops,  including  his  own  regiment.  As  is 
stated  above,  he  fell  at  Chickasaw  Bayou  on  the  second  day  of  the 
battle.  His  remains  were  brought  home  for  burial.  He  was  a  brave 
man,  and  competent  commander.  In  battle  he  was  fearless ;  on  the 
march  lie  was  careful  for  the  comfort  of  his  men. 

His  successor,  Colonel  Adam  B.  Gorgas,  retained  command  until 
the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  service.  The  13th  was  fortunate 
in  its  line  officers. 

SECOND  CAVALRY  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

The  following  is  the  original  roster  of  this  regiment: 
Colonel,  Silas  Noble,  of  Dixon ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Harvey  Hogg,  of  Blooming- 
ton  ;  Major,  Quiney  McNeil,  of  Rock  Island ;  2d  Major,  John  J.  Mudd,  of  Chicago } 
3d  Major,  Daniel  B,  Bush,  jr.,  of  Fittsfield;  Adjutant,  Wm.  Staddin;  Adjutant  1st 
Battalion,  John  R.  Hewlett,  2d  Battalion,  Livander  W.  Patterson,  3d  Battalion, 
Joshua  Rodgers;  Quarter-Master,  Jerome  W.  Hollenbeck;  Commissary,  Lewis 
Aubere;  Surgeon,  J.  B.  Cutta;  Assistant-Surgeon,  Andrew  J.  Crane;  Chaplain 
James  R<  Locke. 


302  PATRIOTISM   OF  ILLINOIS. 

Co.  A— Captain,  John  R.  Hotaling;  1st  Lieutenant,  Frank  B.  Bennett;  2d  Lien- 
tenant,  Albert  J.  Jackson. 

Co.  B— Captain,  Thomas  J.  Larrison;  1st  Lieutenant,  Alfred  U.  Stone  ;  2d  Lieu* 
tenant,  Jerome  B.  Tenney. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Hugh  Fullerton ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Calvin  Terry ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
David  Solenberger. 

Go,  D — Captain,  Franklin  B.  Moore ;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  Lebold ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Thomas  Brown. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Samuel  P.  Tipton  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edwin  F.  Babcock ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  David  H.  Porter. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Reuben  Bowman ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Mellville  H.  Musser ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Neil  T.  Shannon. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Benjamin  F.  Marsh,  jr.;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  G.  Fonda;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Thomas  Logan. 

Co.  H — Captain,  James  D.  Walker;  1st  Lieutenant,  Silas  C.  Higgins;  2d  Lieu- 
tenant,  John  C.  Reynolds. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Chas.  A.  Vieregg;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  Bantling;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  John  H.  Cacy. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Presley  G.  Athey ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Thomas  W.  Jones;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Benjamin  F.  Garretfc. 

Co.  L — Captain,  Sterling  P.  Delano;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  K.  Catlin;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Joseph  L.  Lawyer. 

Co.  M — Captain,  David  Sollenberger ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  B.  Crawford ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Wm.  A.  Mattice. 

Company  A  was  enlisted  in  Ogle  County,  Company  B  in  Logan 
County,  Company  C  in  Mason  County,  Company  D  in  Madison 
County,  Company  E  in  St.  Clair,  Company  F  in  Piatt,  Company 
G  in  Hancock,  Company  H  in  McDoriough,  Company  I  in  Cham* 
paign,  Company  K  in  Pike,  Company  L  in  Adams,  and  Company  M 
in  Mason  County. 

The  Second  Illinois  Cavalry  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Butler  in 
July,  1861,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  August  12,  1861, 
numbering  eleven  companies,  and  the  December  following  Co.  M 
was  added,  making  the  regiment  twelve  companies  strong. 

Before  leaving  Camp  Butler  the  regiment  was  scattered,  and  in 
September  we  find  four  companies  at  Metropolis,  111.,  six  companies 
at  Cairo,  111.,  and  one  at  Fort  Holt. 

Early  in  the  winter  following  they  commenced  active  service, 
Go's.  A  and  B  participated  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson  and  the 
preliminary  engagements.  At  this  memorable  battle  Major,  now 


SECOND   CAVALRY,  803- 

Colonel,  Mudd  was  dangerously  wounded.  A  portion  of  the  regi 
ment,  under  the  gallant  Lieut.-Col.  Hogg,  entered  the  town  of  Co- 
luinbus,  Ky.,  before  the  enemy  had  fairly  left  it,  and  held  it  until 
next  day,  when  the  gunboats  and  Gen.  Sherman  came  in  and  found 
it  occupied.  The  Donelson  battalion  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh  and  the  advance  on  Corinth. 

During  the  time  intervening  between  the  first  of  June  and  the 
last  of  August,  1862,  the  regiment  was  engaged  in  many  skirmishes 
and  encounters  with  the  guerrillas  and  bushwhackers  of  West  Ten 
nessee. 

At  the  battle  of  Merriwether's  Ferry,  in  August,  1862,  Lieuts. 
Terry  and  Goodheart,  of  Co.  C,  were  killed,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Middleburg,  on  the  29th  of  August,  Lieut. -Col.  Hogg  and  Lieuts. 
Shannon  and  Lieb,  of  Co.  F,  met  the  same  sad  fate.  To  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Hogg  was  due  to  a  very  large  extent  the  credit  for  the  disci 
pline  and  efficiency  of  the  regiment,  and  in  his  death  it  suffered  an 
irreparable  loss. 

In  October  the  regiment  routed  and  broke  up  Colonel  Hayward's 
band  of  guerrillas  near  Woodville,  in  Hay  ward  County,  and  partic 
ipated  in  the  battles  of  Hatchie  and  Lagrange.  In  December  it 
accompanied  the  advance  of  Gen.  Grant's  army  as  far  south  as  Ox 
ford,  Miss.,  and  then  returned  to  Holly  Springs  to  aid  in  the  defence 
of  that  place.  On  the  20th  of  December,  1862,  VanDorn  made  a 
descent  upon  Holly  Springs,  the  infantry,  about  thirteen  hundred 
strong,  surrendering  without  resistance,  the  cavalry,  five  compa 
nies  from  the  Second  Illinois,  made  a  bold  and  determined  resistance. 
After  many  charges  and  counter  charges  they  broke  through  the 
enemy,  by  whom  they  were  surrounded,  and  passed  out,  followed 
by  five  times  their  number. 

The  regiment  lost — Lieut.-Col.  McNeil,  captured ;  two  Captains 
and  two  Lieutenants  wounded ;  thirteen  enlisted  men  killed ;  forty- 
one  wounded,  and  ninety-seven  prisoners,  including  sick  and 
wounded.  Major,  now  Colonel,  Mudd  and  Major,  now  Lieut.-Col., 
Bush  were  the  only  field  officers  at  the  post  not  captured.  General 
Grant  complimented  the  regiment  in  general  orders  on  this  occasion. 
It  joined  in  the  pursuit  of  VanDorn  in  his  retreat  southward. 

At  the  opening  of  the  new  year,  1863,  we  find  them  at  Memphis, 


304:  PATRIOTISM  o#  ILLINOIS* 

Tenn.  They  were  the  first  cavalry  from  the  army  of  the  Tennessee 
to  join  Gen.  Grant  in  the  Vicksburg  campaign,  and  led  the  advance 
during  the  whole  of  that  campaign.  They  were  in  the  battles  of 
Richmond,  Port  Gibson,  Champion  Hills  and  Black  River,  and  the 
siege  of  Vicksburg  with  its  skirmishes,  in  one  of  which  Col.  Mudd 
received  two  severe  wounds. 

After  the  fall  of  Vicksburg  the  regiment  led  the  advance  of  Gen. 
Sherman's  army  in  the  march  to  Jackson,  Miss.,  and  with  the  6th 
Missouri  cavalry,  under  Major  Fullerton,  of  the  2d  Illinois  cavalry, 
made  a  raid  to  the  south,  destroying  the  railroad  for  sixty  miles 
towards  New  Orleans,  driving  out  the  rebels  and  liberating  many 
conscripts. 

In  August,  1863,  they  were  ordered  to  the  Department  of  the 
Gulf  and  accompanied  Gen.  Franklin  on  his  grand  expedition  up 
the  Teche  Bayou  and  back.  They  were  with  Gens.  Herron  and 
Dana  when  they  made  their  move  on  Morganza,  and  participated  in 
the  many  battles  and  skirmishes  occurring  at  that  time.  After  a 
great  deal  of  the  best  fighting,  without  any  apparent  object  or  aim, 
the  expedition  returned  to  New  Iberia  in  December,  with  a  loss  of 
more  than  one  thousand  men,  the  regiment  worn  out  with  severe 
duty  and  being  obliged  to  subsist  on  damaged  food.  By  extra  care 
it  had  been  kept  up  to  eight  hundred,  and  was  now  both  the  oldest 
and  fullest  cavalry  regiment  in  the  service,  and  the  best  mounted  in 
the  Western  army,  if  not  in  the  United  States. 

In  the  spring  of  1864  the  regiment  asked  the  War  Department  to 
concentrate  the  companies,  and  give  them  a  chance  to  re-enlist  as  a 
regiment.  But  no  attention  being  paid  to  the  request,  and  the  offi 
cers  and  men  feeling  that  it  was  a  reasonable  one,  determined  to 
make  that  a  condition  precedent  to  re-enlistment.  Some  efforts 
were  made,  but  in  only  one  company  was  the  requisite  number  ob 
tained,  and  the  regiment  seemed  likely  to  be  lost  to  the  service  after 
the  expiration  of  their  term  of  enlistment.  They  suffered  as  did 
other  cavalry  regiments  from  the  habit  of  detailing  orderlies  and 
escorts.  Their  officers  were  usually  powerless  to  prevent  it,  as  they 
were  in  nearly  all  cases  placed  under  command  of  infantry  officers 
who  knew  little  of  that  arm  of  the  service,  and  were  not  careful  of 
its  wants. 


MUDD.  305 

One  battalion,  commanded  alternately  by  Major  Larrison  and 
Captain  More,  remained  for  more  than  a  year  in  Western  Tennes 
see,  where  they  were  engaged  in  guerrilla  hunting.  They  were 
with  Gen.  Smith  on  his  celebrated  march  to  Okalona,  upon  which 
expedition  Lieut.  Catlin^  of  Co.  L,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
supposed  to  have  been  mortally  wounded.  The  Second  Cavalry 
Reserves  much  at  the  hands  of  a  grateful  State,  for  it  has  wrought 
well  iii  its  service. 

Colonel  John  J.  Mudd  was  born  in  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri, 
January  9,  1820.  His  father  died  in  1833,  and  in  the  same  year  his 
mother  with  her  six  children  moved  to  Pike  County,  Illinois,  with 
the  object  of  raising  her  children  free  from  the  curse  of  slavery. 

In  1849  he  made  the  overland  journey  to  California  taking  the 
route  by  the  way  of  Soda  Springs,  Fort  Hall  and  the  Falls  of  the 
Cumberland  and  Truckee  River,  and  home  via  the  Isthmus  and 
New  Orleans.  And  again  in  1850  he  made  a  second  journey  to  the 
"land  of  gold,"  via  Salt  Lake  and  Carson  River,  and  returned 
home  in  1851  via  the  Isthmus  and  New  York.  In  1854  he  moved 
to  St.  Louis  and  entered  into  the  commission  business  in  the  firm  of 
Mudd  &  Hughes,  but  in  the  great  financial  crash  of  1857  failed,  and 
shortly  after  removed  to  Chicago  where  he  was  engaged  in  a  pros 
perous  business  at  the  breaking  out  of  hostilities  in  1861.. 

He  was  at  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  New  Orleans,  December  1, 
1860.  The  chivalry  were  then  commencing  hostilities  and  were 
firing  the  Southern  heart  by  lynching  Northern  men  and  driving  off 
their  female  teachers.  To  avoid  a  difficulty  he  left  the  hotel  having 
been  informed  by  his  room-mates — Southern  men — that  the  vigi 
lance  committee  had  been  notified  of  his  presence.  He  told  them 
that  he  would  return  some  day  when  he  could  tell  for  whom  he 
Voted  without  fear  of  being  murdered  by  a  drunken  mob.  And 
there,  at  the  close  of  1863,  he  witnessed  for  the  first  time  in  his  life 
an  abolition  meeting. 

In  September,  1861,  he  entered  the  army  as  2d  Major  of  the  2d 
Ills.  Cavalry,  served  at  Cairo,  Ills.,  under  Gens.  Grant  and  McCler- 
hand,  at  Bird's  Point  under  Cols.  Oglesby  and  Wallace,  and 
Paducah,  Ky.,  under  Gen.  Smith, 

His  first  encounter  with  the  enemy  was  on  the  9th  of  February, 
20 


306  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

1862,  at  the  battle  of  Tennessee  Ridge,  where  he  commanded  the 
cavalry.  They  routed  and  dispersed  the  enemy,  pursuing  them  to 
within  a  mile  of  Fort  Donelson,  killing  and  wounding  a  number  of 
them  and  capturing  twenty-six  prisoners,  including  three  officers, 
with  a  loss  of  but  six  slightly  wounded.  This  virtually  opened  the 
battle  of  Fort  Donelson  and  was  characterized  by  Gen.  McCler- 
nand  as  the  most  brilliant  achievement  of  the  war. 

Three  days  subsequently  he  led  the  advance  of  Gen.  McCler- 
nand's  Division  in  the  final  movement  on  Fort  Donelson,  being  the 
first  to  meet  the  enemy's  cavalry,  driving  in  their  pickets,  and  hold 
ing  the  main  body  at  bay  until  Gen.  Me  demand  gained  possession 
of  the  adjacent  hills,  and  a  secure  position. 

The  Major  reconnoitered  the  entire  battle  grounds  and  discovered 
and  reported  the  existence  of  back  water,  both  above  and  below 
the  fortifications  on  which  our  respective  right  and  left  flanks  were 
subsequently  formed,  rendering  the  escape  of  the  garrison  impossi 
ble.  Major  Mudd  was  dangerously  wounded  and  sent  to  St.  Louis 
with  but  little  hopes  of  recovery.  But  contrary  to  all  expectation 
he  rejoined  the  army  soon  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  Being  yet 
unable  to  perform  cavalry  duty  in  the  field,  lie  was  attached  to  the  staff 
of  Gen.  McClernand  during  the  advance  on  Corinth,  and  continued  in 
•that  position  until  the  last  of  August  when  he1  rejoined  his  regiment, 

On  the  29th  of  August,  1862,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Hogg  fell  while 
"leading  his  men  in  a  gallant  charge  at  Middleburg.  Major  McNeil 
'being  the  senior  Major  succeeded  him.  In  October  Major  Mudd 
was  sent  out  by  Major-General  McPherson  with  four  hundred  cav 
alry  in  search  of  the  rebel  Col.  Faulkner  between  the  Hatchie  and 
Forked  Deer  rivers.  They  succeeded  in  getting  on  Col.  Hayward's 
trail,  and  after  a  run  of  twenty-five  miles,  overtook,  attacked  and 
routed  his  gang  of  guerrillas,  completely  dispersing  and  breaking  up 
the  band.  They  captured  forty  prisoners,  eighty  horses,  sixty  guns, 
and  all  their  camp  equipage  and  wagons,  and  returned  after  six 
days  absence  without  the  loss  of  a  man  killed,  wounded,  or  missing, 
with  the  army  in  the  advance  south  to  Holly  Springs  and  Oxford, 
Miss.,  in  December,  1862. 

On  the  31st  of  that  month  Lieutenant-Colonel  McNeil  resigned 
-and  Major  Mudd  was  promoted  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  on  February, 


TWENTY-SECOND.  307 

186 3,  was  promoted  to  Colonel,  and  ordered  to  report  to  Gen. 
Grant  at  Young's  Point,  opposite  Vicksburg. 

He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Greenville,  Port  Gibson,  Cham 
pion  Hills  and  Black  River.  His  command  was  the  first  that  skir 
mished  with  the  enemy  over  the  fields  of  Champion  Hills  the  day 
before  the  great  battle.  He  discovered  and  suggested  to  Gen. 
Lawler  the  route  by  which  he  advanced,  and  from  which  he  made 
the  heroic  and  successful  charge  which  decided  the  fate  of  the 
day. 

The  regiment  participated  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  and  the  skir 
mishes  which  took  place  at  that  time.  On  the  13th  offline  the  Col. 
was  again  dangerously  wounded  and  sent  to  St.  Louis.  He  returned 
to  the  army  after  an  absence  of  but  little  over  a  month,  not  fully 
recovered.  He  went  to  New  Orleans  again,  at  which  time  he  went 
out  with  the  regiment  to  Opelousas,  Franklin,  New  Iberia  and'VeV- 
million,  and  also  on  the  expedition  under  Gen.  Franklin  towards 
Texas  and  back,  during  which  time  he  was  engaged  in  many  petty 
encounters  and  some  severe  skirmishing, 

TWENTY-SECOND  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

The  22d  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  one  of  ten  regi 
ments  called  out  by  Gov.  Yates,  was  organized  at  Belleville,  St. 
Clair  Co.,  on  the  llth  of  May,  1861, 

The  following  is  the  original  roster  of  the  regiment : 

Colonel,  Henry  Dougherty;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Harrison  E.  Hart;  Major,  Enadies 
Probst ;  Adjutant,  Robert  H.  Cliff ;  Quartermaster,  Charles  M.  Hamilton  ;  Surgeon, 
George  Coatsworth ;  1st  Ass't  Surgeon,  John  Fitzer ;  2d  Ass't  Surgeon,  Isaac  W. 
Brown ;  Chaplain,  Thomas  F.  Houts. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Samuel  Johnson ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Theodore  Wiseman ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  William  S.  Ford. 

Company  B — Captain,  John  Seaton  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Robert  H.  Clift ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  James  N.  Morgan. 

Company  C— Captain,  Guide  W.  Stierlin;  1st  Lieutenant,  Wm.  A.  Gregory;  2d 
Lieutenant,  George  C  Stevens. 

Company  D — Captain,  James  A,  Hubbard  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Elias  J.  C.  Alexander 
2d  Lieutenant,  Lemuel  Adams. 

Company  E — Captain,  Samuel  G.  Me  Adams ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  M.  Hamil 
ton  ;  2d  Lieutenant,  George  Gibsos, 


308  PATRIOTISM  OF  LILINOIS. 

Company  F — Captain,  George  Abbott ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Herman  Borneffiann  ;  2& 
Lieutenant,  John  Frohlich. 

Company  G — Captain,  James  S.  Jackson ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Solomon  Smith ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Edward  J.  Jackson. 

Company  H — Captain,  Francis  Swanwick ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Harrey  Nevill ;  2d 
Lieuten-ant,  Cave  Montague. 

Company  I — Captain,  John  A.  Detrich ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Milton  A.  French ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Robert  H.  Livingston. 

Company  K — Captain,  Thomas  Challener ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Hugh  Watson ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  William  M.  Lewis. 

From  Belleville  the  regiment  removed  to  Caseyville,  and  thence 
to  Bird's  Point,  Mo.  Landing  on  the  12th  of  July,  on  the  sandy 
point,  without  a  particle  of  shade,  and  under  a  blazing  sun,  many  of 
the  men  suffered  severely.  The  post  was  then  commanded  by  Col, 
W.  IT.  L.  Wallace,  afterwards  General.  Their  duties,  in  throwing 
up  breastworks,  digging  trenches,  scouting  during  the  excessive  heat 
of  that  hot  summer,  standing  picket  and  guarding  the  bridges  over 
the  swamps  on  the  Charleston  railroad,  together  with  the  unhealthi- 
ness  of  the  position,  owing  to  the  burning,  sandy  soil,  and  the  large 
tract  of  low,  rich  bottom  land,  intersected  by  swamps  and  lagoons,, 
a  short  distance  from  the  river,  brought  on  bilious  diseases,  diarrhea? 
and  dysentery,  to  such  an  extent  that,  at  the  surgeon's  call  for  sick 
men  one  morning,  sixty  men  presented  themselves  from  a  single  com- 
pany,  and  the  regiment  was  soon  so  reduced  as  to  have  less  than  one 
half  its  number  for  duty.  On  the  night  of  the  18th  of  August,  Col. 
Dougherty  was  ordered  to  take  possession  of  Charleston,  on  the 
Cairo  &  Fulton  Railroad,  about  twelve  miles  from  the  post,  which 
he  succeeded  in  doing,  with  a  loss  of  one  killed  and  six  wounded, 
the  Colonel  and  Captain  Johnson  being  among  the  latter,  taking  some 
fifty  or  sixty  prisoners.  In  the  month  of  September,  the  8th  and  22d 
regiments,  together  with  a  part  of  Taylor's  Battery,  took  possession? 
of  Norfolk,  about  six  miles  down  the  river,  and  nearer  to  Columbus, 
the  whole  commanded  by  Col.  Richard  Oglesby,  remaining  there 
about  two  weeks,  during  which  time  continual  skirmishing  took  place, 

Nolman's  and  Burne's  companies,  of  the  First  Illinois  Cavalry, 
having  joined  the  command,  were  actively  engaged  in  skirmishing 
and  scouting.  Toward  the  end  of  Septemljer,  the  enemy  approached 
one  of  the  pickets  posted  near  a  bridge  over  a  swamp  about  a  mile 


THE    TWENTY-SECOND.  309 

from  camp.  They  were  handsomely  repulsed,  with  a  loss  of  several 
killed  and  wounded.  After  remaining  about  two  weeks  at  Norfolk, 
it  was  thought  prudent  to  return  within  the  breastworks  at  Bird's 
Point. 

On  the  7th  of  November  was  fought  the  battle  of  Belmont.  The 
22d  was  in  the  hottest  of  the  fire  from  first  to  last.  One  hundred 
and  twenty-six  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  were  its  allottment  of 
suffering.  Among  the  wounded  were  Col.  Dougherty,  Capt.  Abbott, 
Capt.  Hubbard,  and  Capt  Challener,  also  Lieut.  Adams,  of  Co.  D. 

Col.  Dougherty,  who  commanded  a  demi-brigade,  was  taken  pris 
oner  after  being  wounded  and  having  his  horse  killed.  He  was  de 
tained  some  weeks,  when  he  was  released,  but  never  returned  to  the 
regiment  for  duty.  He  remained  in  service  until  May,  1863,  when 
he  was  honorably  discharged.  Col.  D.  is  still  in  the  very  prime  of 
life,  has  seen  muck  service  in  the  regular  army  in  Mexico,  New  Mex 
ico,  and  on  the  Plains.  He  possesses  the  courage  and  all  the  natural 
instincts  of  a  soldier,  and  had  he  not  been  disabled  from  active  ser 
vice  so  early  in  the  war,  nothing  but  an  adverse  Providence  could 
have  prevented  him  from  rising  in  the  army. 

After  the  battle  it  returned  to  Bird's  Point,  and  there  remained 
until  the  10th  of  March,  1862,  when  it  joined  Gen.  Pope's  army, 
then  moving  on  New  Madrid.  During  thewinter  Major  Probst  had 
been  compelled  to  resign  from  the  effects  of  an  injury  sustained 
whilst  riding  a  fiery  horse,  and  Capt.  T.  Swanwick  was  commissioned 
in  his  place.  The  regiment  was  present  at  the  evacuation  of  New 
Madrid,  crossing  the  river  at  that  point,  and  the  capture  of  nearly 
five  thousand  prisoners  at  Tiptonville ;  landed  at  Hamburg,  on  Ten 
nessee  River,  22d  of  April ;  was  present  and  under  fire  during  the 
operations  around  Farmington ;  was  farthest  advanced  of  any  regi 
ment  on  the  8th  of  May,  when  fifteen  to  twenty  thousand  of  the 
enemy  had  nearly  surrounded  the  Union  forces,  consisting  of  only  a 
few  regiments,  and  narrowly  escaped  being  cut  off  and  captured  by 
holding  their  advanced  position  too  long,  and  were  only  saved  by  a 
timely  order  from  Gen.  Palmer  to  retreat.  Lost  in  this  affair  fifteen 
in  all. 

Until  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  on  the  night  of  the  29th  of  May, 
the  regiment  was  constantly  engaged  in  skirmishing  and  throwing 


310  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

up  rifle  pits,  and  picketing,  and  lost  two  men  whilst  going  out  on* 
relief.  May  21st  it  had  five  or  six  men  sun-struck.  It  accompanied 
the  army  in  pursuit  of  the  rebel  army  as  far  as  Booneville,  where 
want  of  supplies  and  water  compelled  it  to  go  into  camp  at  Big 
Springs,  about  four  miles  southeast  of  Corinth;  there  it  remained 
until  about  the  20th  of  July,  when  Roberts'  brigade,  of  which  it 
formed  a  part,  was  stationed  along  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  Kail- 
road,  the  headquarters  of  the  22d  being  at  Cherokee,  Alabama, 
where,  for  the  first  time  since  leaving  Cairo,  the  men  enjoyed  a  full 
and  comfortable  diet,  including  vegetables,  fruit,  and  fresh  meat. 

About  the  last  of  August  it  moved  to  Tuscumbia  and  from  thence 
accompanied  Gen.  Palmer  from  Florence  and  Decatur  to  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  where  it  arrived  on  the  12th  of  September.  This  march  was 
one  of  the  most  perilous  of  the  war,  the  wagon  train  was  necessarily 
very  long,  and  guerrillas  and  others  continually  harassed  the  flanks 
and  rear,  firing  from  covers,  picking  up  all  stragglers,  and  men  who 
fell  behind  from  fatigue.  It  was  made  in  the  hottest  time  of  year 
and  on  a  McAdamized  road  without  shade.  But  the  sound  judg 
ment,  firmness,  and  good  management  of  the  able  commander,  Gen.. 
John  M.  Palmer,  carried  his  little  force  through  its  dangers,  losing 
only  a  few  men.  Not  a  single  wagon  was  taken.  On  the  15th  of 
September  the  regiment  pitched  tents  on  College  Hill,  where  it  re 
mained  until  the  14th  of  December,  subsisting  upon  the  country 
&c.,  fighting  for  every  mouthful  of  food  and  forage  consumed. 
Nashville  was  then  cut  off  from  the  loyal  states  so  completely  that 
there  was  no  communication  until  about  the  llth  or  12th  of  Novem 
ber.  Gen.  Negley  commanded  the  post. 

The  22d  regiment  was  commanded  by  Major,  now  Lieut.  - 
Col.,  Swanwick,  Lieut.-Col.  Hart,  .the  courteous  gentleman  and 
gallant  soldier,  having  died  on  the  26th  of  July.  On  the  morning 
of  the  21st  of  October  a  body  of  about  four  hundred  of  Morgan's 
cavalry  surrounded  a  picket  post  of  thirty-four  men  and  made  them 
prisoners.  Major  Swanwick  mistook  them  for  Union  men  and  or 
dered  the  boys  not  to  fire.  Many  of  the  rebels  wore  the  blue  over 
coats  of  the  Union  soldiers.  The  captured  men  were  taken  to- 
Murfreesboro,  where  General  Forest  then  commanded,  and  there 
exchanged,  About  the  1st  of  December  a  new  organization  was 


AT    STONE    EIVEK.  311 

made,  which  separated  the  22d  regiment  from  the  command  of  Gen. 
Palmer,  greatly  to  the  regret  of  both  officers  and  men. 

On  the  14th  of  December  the  regiment  moved  out  to  Camp  Sher 
idan,  six  miles  on  the  Milansville  turnpike,  and  remained  there  until 
the  26th.  During  the  stay  here  another  company  on  picket  was 
surrounded  and  partly  captured.  The  regiment  was  now  brigaded 
with  the  27th,  42d  and  51st  Illinois,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Roberts,  attached  to  the  .division  of  Gen.  Sheridan.  From  the  26th 
to  the  30th  considerable  skirmishing  and  lighting  took  place. 

Tuesday  morning,  December  30th,  the  hard  fought,  five  days' 
battle  of  Stone  River  began,  Robert's  brigade  in  advance  of  Sheri 
dan's  division,  and  the  22d  leading  the  brigade.  By  command  of 
Col.  Roberts  the  Lieut.-Col.  ordered  Co.  A,  commanded  by  Lieut. 
W.  S.  Ford,  Co.  B,  Capt.  J.  K  Morgan,  and  Co.  C,  Capt.  W.  A. 
Gregory,  to  deploy  as  skirmishers  and  cover  the  advance  of  the 
right.  They  did  so  and  advanced  rapidly  through  some  open  fields 
into  the  timber,  where  they  were  met  and  sharply  engaged  by  the 
enemy's  skirmishers.  In  a  short  time  the  right  was  formed  in  the 
edge  of  the  timber  and  the  skirmishers  recalled,  they  having  lost 
ten  or  twelve  men.  Towards  evening  the  regiment  advanced  and 
was  driving  the  enemy's  skirmishers,  when,  by  order  of  Colonel 
Roberts,  it  retired  in  good  order,  still  covered  by  several  companies 
deployed  as  skirmishers.  Went  into  camp  for  the  night  about  9 
p.  M.  Wednesday,  December  31st,  Sheridan's  division  was  soon  en 
gaged,  and  from  the  fact  of  the  troops  on  the  extreme  right  being 
driven  back  by  a  furious  attack  by  Hardee,  the  Division  was  at  once 
enveloped  in  a  murderous  front  and  flank  musketry  and  artillery 
fire,  from  three  sides,  by  which  the  22d  lost  more  than  half  its  men 
in  a  few  hours,  and  after  a  determined  defence,  during  which,  by  a 
bayonet  charge,  it  took  the  ground  on  the  Wilkinson  pike,  over 
which  it  had  been  driven,  it  was  forced  from  the  field  and  compelled 
to  retreat  in  haste.  It  was  here  about  11  A.  M.  that  Col.  Roberts 
was  killed  while  making  a  desperate  but  hopeless  effort  to  stop  the 
advance  of  an  overwhelming  force  of  rebels,  with  four  fragments 
of  regiments  numbering  all  told  about  six  or  seven  hundred  men, 
and  about  the  same  time  Lieut. -Col.  Swan  wick's  left  arm  was 
broken  above  the  elbow  by  a  rifle  bullet,  and  his  horse  also  .received 


312  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

two  bullets.  After  continuing  in  command  for  somewhere  about 
half  an  hour  he  was  compelled  to  dismount  for  the  purpose  of  hav 
ing  his  wound  dressed,  but  the  enemy  opened  a  fire  from  the  rear, 
and  giving  up  the  command  to  Capt.  Johnson,  the  Lieut. -Colonel 
lay  down  behind  a  log,  where  he  remained  three  hours,  obliged  to 
change  position  three  times  to  get  shelter  from  the  bullets,  as  the 
armies  advanced  or  retired.  He  was  then  made  prisoner  and  taken 
to  Murfreesboro  and  there  remained  two  days ;  from  thence  to  At 
lanta,  Ga,,  and  thence  to  Richmond,  where,  with  some  sixty  or 
seventy  other  officers,  he  arrived  March  1st,  and  remained  iu  Libby 
prison  till  May  5th,  when  he  was  exchanged  and  sent  home.  With 
his  fellow  prisoners  he  suffered  greatly,  partly  from  neglect  and 
partly  from  unavoidable  causes.  Their  food  was  wretched — the  very 
worst  of  beef,  and  in  Atlanta  the  poorest  ill-baked  corn  bread ;  in 
Richmond  very  good  bread  but  only  about  half  enough  of  it.  The 
Lieut.-Colonel  returned  to  his  regiment  at  Murfreesboro  on  the  17th 
of  May,  without  going  home,  his  arm  still  weak,  but  went  on  duty 
at  once.  The  whole  loss  of  the  regiment  in  the  battles  of  Stone 
River  was  one  hundred  and  ninety-nine  out  of  three  hundred  and 
forty-one,  almost  two  thirds. 

Officers  wounded,  Capt.  Gregory,  Co.  C;  Boonman  F.  Nevill 
M.  A.  French,  of  Co.  I ;  Lieut.  Galloway,  Co.  D,  mortally ;  Scheener, 
mann,  of  Co.  F,  and  Sergeant-Major  H.  Laraque,  mortally  wounded. 
The  horses  of  all  the  field  officers  were  hit,  and  Adjutant  Clift  had 
his  clothes  cut. 

Thus  the  regiment  Avas  deprived  of  a  fourth  field  officer  within 
about  a  year  and  a  half.  Captain,  now  Major,  Samuel  Johnson,  on 
whom,  as  senior  Captain,  the  command  now  devolved,  was  every 
way  capable  of  taking  command.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the 
Mexican  war,  was  present  at  the  night  attack  on  Charleston,  Mo., 
in  August,  1861,  in  command  of  his  Company,  A,  and  was  then 
wounded  in  the  leg.  A  modest,  unpretending  man,  in  the  prime  of 
life,  and,  before  his  last  wound,  capable  of  enduring  great  fatigue 
and  hardship ;  of  unflinching  courage  and  unyielding  firmness.  He 
was  again  severely  wounded  at  Chickamauga,  from  which  he  has 
not  yet  (March,  1864,)  sufficiently  recovered  to  go  on  duty.  The 
winter  and  spring  of  1863  were  spent  in  scouting,  foraging  and 


AT   CHICKAMAUGA.  313 

picketing  around  Murfreesboro.  On  the  24th  of  June  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  struck  tents  and  began  the  memorable  campaign  of 
Chickamauga. 

For  twenty-one  days  it  rained  every  day,  and  the  men  had  often 
to  wade  streams  so  deep  as  to  render  it  necessary  to  carry  their  car 
tridge  boxes  on  their  guns  to  keep  the  ammunition  dry.  The 
boasted  fortifications  of  Tullahoma  were  evacuated  by  Gen.  Bragg 
on  our  approach.  The  22d  was  scarcely  under  fire  from  Murfrees 
boro  to  Tullahoma.  The  month  of  August  was  passed  at  Bridge 
port,  Ala.,  where  Bragg  had  destroyed  the  railroad  bridge  across 
the  Tennessee  River.  About  the  1st  of  September,  the  army  began 
the  crossing  of  the  river  at  various  points  from  Stevenson  up,  and 
started  on  the  Chickamauga  campaign.  Friday,  September  18th, 
the  regiment  had  bivouacked  when  orders  came  to  march,  and  by 
dark  it  was  under  way,  marching  until  after  midnight.  Saturday, 
19th,  broke  up  camp  early  in  the  morning,  and  soon  after  heard  the 
first  guns  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  About  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon,  the  22d,  forming  a  part  of  the  3d  brigade,  Sherman's  3d 
division,  went  into  action,  and  within  ten  or  twelve  minutes  after 
they  fired  the  first  gun,  ninety-seven  out  of  less  than  three  hundred 
men  were  cut  down  by  a  murderous  front  and  flank  fire,  the  left 
flank  being  entirely  unprotected,  and  having  advanced  within  twenty 
paces  of  an  overwhelming  mass  of  the  enemy  concealed  among  the 
undergrowth,  fell  back.  It  rallied  in  a  ditch  in  an  open  field  and 
there  repulsed  a  desperate  attack.  The  regiment  remained  all  night 
in  the  ditch.  Although  so  early  in  the  season,  it  was  very  cold,  and 
all  suffered  severely.  The  cries  of  the  wounded  were  heart-rending ; 
all  was  done  for  them  that  could  be,  but  it  was  a  fearful  night. 
After  carrying  in  all  the  wounded  that  could  be  found,  the  regiment 
collected  all  the  guns  within  reach  and  loaded  them,  giving  each 
man  from  two  to  five  loads,  but  the  night  wore  away  without  an 
attack,  and  the  brigade  was  withdrawn  about  daylight  under  cover 
of  a  dense  fog.  Before  noon  on  Sunday,  the  20th,  it  was  again  en 
gaged,  and  after  suffering  severely,  was  forced  off  the  field  with  the 
loss  of  the  right  wing  of  the  army  and  retreated  on  Chattanooga, 
holding  the  enemy  in  check  all  the  way,  and  taking  three  days  to 
retreat  about  twelve  miles.  Total  loss  of  the  regiment  in  the  two 


314  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS 

days'  fight,  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  (many  of  the  latter 
wounded)  128  out  of  less  than  300!  Among  the  wounded  was 
Major  Johnson,  very  severely;  Captain  French,  mortally ;  he  had 
been  twice  wounded  at  Stone  River,  had  just  returned,  still  lame, 
but  dragged  himself  along  to  meet  his  fate,  like  a  brave  man.  He 
died  in  the  hospital  on  the  27th.  His  company  (I)  had  also  both 
Lieutenants,  Hood  and  Wilson,  two  valuable  officers,  wounded. 
Lieut.  J.  T.  Stansifer,  of  Co.  C,  had  his  leg  badly  shattered  below 
the  knee  whilst  doing  his  duty  manfully  with  his  company  in  the 
thickest  of  the  fight.  Captain  James  S.  Jackson,  acting  as  Major 
was  made  prisoner  while  pursuing  his  horse  which  had  broken  away 
from  him.  The  brave  old  Captain  Nevill  was  again  slightly  wounded 
in  the  leg. 

After  reaching  Chattanooga  the  troops  were  constantly  at  work 
on  the  fortifications  or  engaged  in  picket  duty.  Men  and  officers 
were  on  less  than  half  rations  ;  many  of  both  had  neither  blanket, 
overcoat  or  sock,  and  often  went  on  guard  or  fatigue  without  any 
thing  to  eat. 

It  had  its  share  in  the  glorious  events  of  Lookout  Mountain  and 
Missionary  Ridge.  A  little  after  noon  on  the  25th,  Sheridan's  divi 
sion  received  orders  to  drive  the  enemy  from  the  rifle  pits  along 
their  front  at  the  foot  of  Mission  Ridge.  This  was  accomplished 
about  3  p.  M.,  the  enemy  abandoning  them.  An  officer  of  the  22d 
says  :  "  The  22d,  among  other  regiments,  moved  to  the  assault  on 
the  rifle  pits  over  a  perfectly  smooth  plain,  exposed  to  a  terrible  ar 
tillery  fire  from  the  enemy  on  the  top  of  the  mountain,  together  with 
a  heavy  infantry  fire,  the  latter  too  distant  to  produce  much  effect. 
The  line  was  halted  for  some  time  in  the  rifle  pits  and  a  wet  ditch 
at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  the  rebels  on  top,  distant  600  to  800 
yards,  in  full  view,  with  their  breastworks  and  batteries  and  their 
red  battle  flags  waving  and  flourishing  in  defiance  of  what  they 
considered  a  mad  attempt.  At  length  the  order  was  given  to  scale 
the  mountain,  and,  although  it  must  be  confessed,  a  few  held  back, 
the  mass  of  the  troops  rose  up  and  started  on  that  journey  of  death 
without  faltering,  and  almost  as  far  as  objects  could  be  distinguished, 
the  glorious  old  banner  of  freedom  could  be  seen  advancing  up  the 
steep  mountain  side,  sometimes  one  regiment  in  advance,  sometimes 


THE    TWENTY-SECOND.  315 

another,  but  all  constantly  gaining  ground.  When  the  22d  reached 
a  point  within  150  yards  of  the  summit,  it  became  exposed  to  a 
severe  cross  fire  from  the  head  of  a  ravine  on  the  left,  from  which 
many  men  were  hit  and  the  horse  of  Lieut. -Colonel  S.  received  a 
third  wound,  but  the  line  continued  to  advance.  Another  shout  of 
'  Forward,'  another  desperate  rush,  this  time  literally  '  up  to  the  can 
non's  mouth,'  and  the  batteries,  the  forts,  the  battle,  and  the  whole 
position  were  won,  and  nothing  could  be  seen  of  our  late  confident 
and  defiant  enemy  but  their  backs,  as  they  fled  in  wild  confusion 
down  the  eastern  slope  of  the  mountain.  This  being  the  first  time 
the  22d  had  ever  had  a  clear,  decided  victory  on  their  part  of  the 
field,  they  were  much  excited  and  very  jubilant,  the  more  so  as  for 
the  first  time  the  loss  of  the  regiment  was  proportionately  light, 
although  they  went  up  a  part  of  the  mountain  where  they  were  as 
much  exposed  to  both  artillery  and  musketry  as  any  other  regiment 
in  the  whole  line." 

The  whole  loss  of  the  22d  regiment,  killed  and  wounded,  in  this 
desperate  attack,  was  only  twenty-one,  out  of  about  one  hundred 
and  sixty,  all  the  fighting  men  thut  could  be  found  to  follow  the  flag. 
The  night  was  passed  on  picket  and  in  pursuit  as  far  as  Chicka- 
mauga  creek,  which  was  reached  before  daylight,  about  six  miles 
from  the  battle-field,  but  the  enemy  had  crossed  and  destroyed  all 
the  means  of  crossing. 

On  the  27th  again  on  the  war-path  for  the  relief  of  Burnside  at 
Knoxville.  Then  bivouacking  on  the  cold  ground  without  tents  or 
blankets,  and  with  but  few  overcoats,  and  living  on  half  rations,  some 
of  the  men  without  socks  or  shoes.  Says  the  writer  before  quoted : 

"  They  complained,  of  course,  but  still  did  their  duty.  Went  out 
to  Dandridge  about  the  middle  of  January,  retreated  from  there  in 
a  hurry,  stopped  a  day  or  two  at  Knoxville,  thence  went  to  Louden 
about  the  last  of  January,  and  built  winter  quarters — log  cabins.  Of 
the  campaign  from  the  time  of  leaving  Bridgeport,  September  2d,  to 
the  end  of  January  it  may  with  truth  be  said,  that  for  fatigue,  expo 
sure,  general  hardship,  with  want  of  clothing  and  food,  it  has  seldom 
been  equaled,  never  surpassed,  it  being  a  well  authenticated  fact  that 
the  troops  never  did,  and  have  not  yet  received  at  any  time  a  full 
government  ration,  and  they  are  not  yet,  March  6, 1 864,  fully  clothed." 


316  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Colonel  Dougherty  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  now  lives  in 
Carlyle,  111.,  lias  been  much  of  his  life  in  the  army,  is  a  civil  en 
gineer,  a  worthy  man  and  good  citizen.  He  proved  himself  early 
in  the  war,  a  gallant  officer  and  a  competent  commander.  It  was 
only  with  him  to  ask  "  where  are  the  foes,"  and  to  order  his  brave 
men  to  follow  him  in  the  charge.  He  retires  maimed  for  life. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Hart  was  born  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia;  his 
father,  still  living,  is  an  Englishman ;  he  was  a  machinist;  was  in 
government  employ  during  the  Mexican  war  as  a  superintendent ; 
was  a  robust,  healthy  man  at  the  commencement  of  his  last  sick 
ness  and  was  every  inch  a  soldier.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Alton, 
Illinois,  July  26,  1862. 

Major  Abbott,  1st  Captain  of  Co.  F,  had  his  thigh  badly  shat 
tered  at  the  battle  of  Belmont,  he  firmly  refused  to  have  it  ampu 
tated  and  this  in  all  probability  saved  his  life.  He  has  been  one  of 
the  Provost  Marshals  of  Illinois.  Resides  at  Alton. 

Major  Samuel  Johnson  was  born  in  Kentucky,  a  farmer  by  occu 
pation,  now  lives  at  Collins  Station,  is  slowly  recovering  from  the 
cruel  wound  received  on  the  first  day's  fight  at  Chickamauga.  He 
is  about  33  years  of  age. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Swanwick,  the  1st  Captain  of  Co.  H,  was 
born  in  England,  in  April,  1809,  now  55  years  of  age.  Came  to 
Illinois  in  1820;  now  resides  in  Chester,  Randolph  County.  Miller 
by  occupation.  Was  out  in  Black  Hawk  campaign,  1832.  Has 
been  cattle-buyer,  merchant  and  miller — went  to  California  in  1852 
over  the  plains  and  remained  there  four  years.  He  has  commanded 
the  regiment  in  every  regular  battle  except  Belmont,  has  been  twice 
a  prisoner.  In  the  schools  he  received  a  limited  education,  but  the 
gallant  veteran  has  learned  much  since  the  war  began. 

Company  A  was  commanded  at  Charleston  by  Captain  Johnson. 
At  Belmont  by  Lieutenant  Malehorn  on  boat  guard ;  at  Farmington, 
Captain  Johnson ;  Stone  River,  Lieutenant  William  S.  Ford,  now 
Adjutant;  Chickamauga  by  Lieutenant,  now  Captain  Malehorn. 
Company  B  at  Belmont  and  Charleston,  Captain  Seaton  ;  Farming- 
ton  and  Stone  River  by  Lieutenant,  now  Captain  Morgan ;  Chicka 
mauga  and  Mission  Ridge,  Lieutenant  McKinzie. 

Company  C  at  Charleston  by  Captain  Starline ;  at  Belmont  by 


THE   'rwKSfTY-gEJCONBrf  Blf 

Lieutenant,  now  Captain  Gregory  ;  at  Farmington,  Capt.  Starline  ; 
Stone  River  by  Captain  Gregory ;  Chickamauga  and  Mission  Ridge 
by  Lieutenant  Welch. 

Company  D  at  Charleston,  Belmont,  Farmington  and  Stone  River 
by  Captain  Hubbard ;  Chickamauga  by  Captain  Phillips ;  Mission 
Ridge  by  Lieutenant  File. 

Company  E  at  Charleston,  Belmont)  Farmington,  Stone  River  and 
Chickamauga  by  Captain  McAdarns,  at  Mission  Ridge  by  Lieutenant, 
now  Captain  Gibson. 

Company  F  at  Charleston  and  Belmont  by  Captain  Abbott } 
Farmington  and  Stone  River  by  Captain  Boonmanii ;  Chickamauga 
and  Mission  Ridge  by  Lieutenant  Scheuremaun,  now  prisoner  at 
Richmond  ;  Stone  River  by  Sergeant  Gregory  ;  Chickamauga  and 
Mission  Ridge  by  Lieutenant  J.  R.  Smith. 

Company  H  at  Belmont,  on  boat  guard,  by  Captain  Swan  wick  j 
Farmington,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga  and  Mission  Ridge,  Captain 
ttevill. 

Company  I,  Belmont,  on  boat  giia'rd,  Captain  Detrick  j  Farming^ 
ton,  Lieutenant  French ;  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga,  Captain 
French  ;  Mission  Ridge,  Lieutenant  Hood. 

Company  K,  Belmont,  Captain  Challenor  ;  Farmington,  Lieuten 
ant  Buchannan ;  Stone  River,  Chickamauga  and  Mission  Ridge^ 
Captain  Buchannan. 

Says  our  correspondent : 

"  In  addition  to  the  number  of  killed,  wounded  and  missing 
reported  by  the  Cos.  (406)  there  has  been  three  field  officers  severely 
wounded  and  Captain  Jackson  acting  as  Major  made  prisoners ;  tw0 
pickets  thirty-four  and  fourteen  in  number  captured  by  cavalry  5 
four  or  five  men  killed  by  accidental  discharge  of  fire  arms,  two 
drowned,  and  a  very  considerable  number  died  of  disease,-  and  still 
more  discharged  on  account  of  disability  contracted  in  the  service  J 
the  few  now  left,  March  1864,  Ayith  the  flag  fit  for  duty,  less  than 
two  hundred,  are  equal  to  Napoleon's,  Wellington's,  or  any  other 
veterans. 

"  There  has  always  been  one  remarkable  feature  in  the  22d  Regi" 
ment,  whilst  other  regiments  were  divided  by  jealousy  and  quar 
reling  among  officers,  there  has  scarcely  been  a  serious  case  of  dis« 


318  FAtKtOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

agreement  between  any  two  officers,  and  promotions  have,  as  a  gen 
eral  thing  been  made  harmoniously,  and  given  satisfaction  to  both 
officers  and  prisoners. 

THE  FORTIETH  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

This  regiment  was  raised  by  Stephen  G.  Hicks,  Esq.,  a  member 
fcf  the  bar,  resident  in  Salem,  Illinois.  Its  members  were  from  the 
counties  of  Fayette,  Marion,  Clay,  Wayne,  Edwards,  W  abash, 
White,  Hamilton  and  Franklin.  It  was  accepted  by  order  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  given  July  25,  1861,  and  was  gathered  into  camp 
at  Sandoval,  Aug.  5,  1861, 

ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 

Colonel,  Stephen G.  Hicks;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  James  W.  Boothe;  Major,  John  B 
Smith  ;  Adjutant^  Rigclen  S.  Barnhill ;  Quartermaster,  Albion  F.  Taylor  ;  Surgeon, 
Samuel  W.  Thompson;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  William  Graham  ;  2d  Assistant  Sur 
geon,  Joseph  W.  Edwards ;  Chaplain,  Richard  Maesey. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Hiram  W.  Hall ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Flavius  J.  Carpenter ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Benjamin  W>  Herrelson-. 

Co.  B — Captain,  William  T.  Sprouse ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Joshua  Goodwin  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Elijah  D.  Martin. 

Co.  C-^Captain,  Elias  Stuart;  1st  Lieutenant,  Samuel  S.  Emery;  2d  Lieutenant, 
William  Merritt. 

Co.  t) — Captain,  Samuel  Hooper;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  Stuart;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Joseph  P.  Rider. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Daniel  N.  Ulm;  1st  Lieutenant,  Andrew  F.  Nesbit ;  2d  Lieutenant 
William  H.  Summers. 

Co.  F— Captain,  Tillman  Shirley  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  T.  Ingram  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Joseph  Ing. 

Co.  G — Captain,  William  F.  Scott;  1st  Lieutenant,  Carlisle  C.  Hopkins;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Jonah  Mori  an. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Samuel  D.  Stuart ;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  G.  Line  ;  2d  Lieutenant^ 
Thomas  F.  Galvin. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Gamaliel  Hoskinson  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  D.  Humphries  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Henry  Crackel. 

Oo>  K — Captain,  Jacob  L.  Moore;  1st  Lieutenant,  Woodruff  Biacklidge ;  2d  Lieu» 
tenant,  Joseph  B.  Figg. 

It  was  mustered  into  service  August  10th,  numbering  about  seven 
hundred.  On  the  12th,  though  unarmed,  it  received  marching  or* 
(^ers,  and  proceeded  by  railroad  to  Illmoistown,  and  then  by  river 


319 

to  Jefferson  Barracks,  where  it  remained  in  camp  fifteen  days.  The 
men  were  armed  with  Harper's  Ferry  rifled  muskets,  and  on  the 
31st  again  were  on  the  march.  On  the  next  day  they  were  con 
veyed  by  transports  to  Paducah,  where  they  remained  some  time 
under  the  training  of  General  C.  F.  Smith.  The  40th  was  brigaded 
with  the  23d  Indiana,  8th  Missouri  and  9th  Illinois,  under  Col.  W. 
H.  L.  Wallace.  Early  in  November  they  were  marched  within 
twelve  miles  of  Columbus,  when  they  Were  ordered  back — >a  march 
which  seems  to  have  been  made  not  in  the  best  of  order.  They  re 
mained  at  Paducah  until  after  the  surrender  of  Forts  Henry  and 
Donelson. 

General  W*  T.  Sherman  was  placed  in  command  at  Paducah,  and 
made  all  exertion  to  prepare  his  troops  for  field  service.  The  40th 
Was  brigaded  with  the  48th  Indiana  and  46th  Ohio,  Col.  Hicks  com* 
manding  the  brigade,  Lieut.- Colonel  Booth  e  the  regiment. 

On  the  6th  of  March,  1862,  the  troops  welcomed  the  order  to 
strike  tents  and  set  out  for  Savannah,  Tenn.  A  portion  of  the  40th 
landed  at  Savannah,  March  8th,  and  was,  with  part  of  the  Ohio  46th, 
the  advance  of  the  army  of  the  Union.  This  place  they  occupied, 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  main  force.  The  permanent  camps  were 
made  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  Sergeant  Hart,  in  his  "  History  of  the 
40th,"  says : 

"Monday )  March  17 'th.  At  1  o'clock  A.  M.  all  were  ordered  to  go 
ashore  with  two  days'  rations  in  their  haversacks  in  trim  for  march 
ing.  The  6th  Iowa  infantry  was  there  attached  to  our  brigade,  and 
their  commander,  Col.  John  Adair  McDowell,  being  Col.  Hick's 
senior,  took  command  of  the  brigade.  We  moved  about  four  miles 
from  the  landing  and  halted  in  an  open  field,  where  we  remained 
over  night,  sending  out  pickets,  who  were  stationed  at  a  meeting 
house  belonging  to  the  Methodist  denomination.  Thus  the  40th  boys 
were  the  first  Union  soldiers  that  stood  picket  at  the  Shiloh  church." 

Sunday,  the  6th,  was  a  bloody  day  to  the  40th.  The  regiment,  in 
battle  line,  advanced  to  meet  the  enemy,  but  the  line  was  broken  oil 
the  left,  and  McDowell's  brigade,  which  was  on  the  extreme  right 
in  front,  was  compelled  to  retreat  or  be  cut  off  and  probably  cap 
tured.  A  retreat  was  ordered  and  the  column  slowly  retired,  re 
ceiving  and  returning  the  enemy's  fire.  At  2  o'clock  Gen.  Sherman 


820  PATRIOTISM  0#  ILLINOIS* 

Ordered  Col.  Hicks  to  storm,  and,  if  possible,  capture  a  battery,  with 
which  the  enemy  was  slaughtering  his  troops.  Immediately  the 
order  "  Charge,"  was  given,  and  the  regiment  went  forward  in  the 
face  of  the  deadly  hail.  Many  were  killed  in  this  fearful  charge,  and 
others  severely  wounded.  One-half  the  regiment  was  here,  in  a 
few  moments,  placed  hors  de  combat.  Col.  Hicks  fell  severely 
wounded,  while  bravely  leading  his  command.  Capt.  Hooper,  Co. 
D,  was  instantly  killed.  The  Colonel  was  borne  frOm  the  field  and  the 
order  was  given  to  retreat,  when  it  was  ascertained  that  the  battery 
was  too  strongly  supported  to  be  stormed  by  one  reduced  regiment. 
The  40th  retired  a  short  distance  and  remained  in  position  during  the 
day,  pouring  a  deadly  fire  upon  the  enemy  at  every  opportunity, 
At  night  it  took  a  position  in  support  of  the  line  of  siege  guns  in 
front  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  with  nothing  to  eat,  tired  and  hungry, 
and  the  cold  ground  their  bed.  Forty  of  their  number  that  day 
were  killed,  and  a  hundred  and  fifty  others  were  suffering  from 
wounds,  some  of  them  yet  on  the  field  or  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
Their  Colonel  was  severely  wounded  by  a  musket  ball  in  his  left 
shoulder.  It  was  a  dreary  night  spent  near  the  river,  in  line  and 
under  arms. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  regiment  was  ordered  for 
ward  to  support  a  reserve  battery  in  General  Nelson's  division.  It 
was  brought  into  action  twice  during  the  day,  once  for  nearly  two 
hours,  and  resulting  in  driving  the  enemy  from  his  position.  The 
regiment  was  in  front  at  2  p.  M.,  on  the  left  of  General  Nelson's  di 
vision,  when  the  enemy  finally  gave  way.  At  night  the  entire  regi 
ment  was  posted,  on  picket  guard,  in  front,  with  orders  to  keep  a 
sharp  look-out  in  every  direction.  Forty  prisoners  wefe  captured 
and  brought  in  during  the  night.  Major  Smith  was  in  command  of 
the  regiment,  Lieut; -Colonel  Boothe  being  too  unwell  to  take  the 
field  on  the  morning  of  the  7th.  At  night  Major  Smith  Was  taken 
Violently  sick  and  the  command  devolved  upon  Capt.  Hall,  of  Co.  A. 
Morning  at  length  dawned,  arid  with  it  came  a  detail  for  the  entire 
regiment  for  fatigue  duty,  and  all  were  required  to  engage  in  bury- 
ng  the  dead.  The  entire  day,  April  8th,  was  spent  in  burying  friend 
and  foe  in  one  common  grave-yard.  While  thus  engaged,  night 
again  found  the  regiment  on  the  battle-field*  It  was  the  reality  of 


THE   FORTIETH.  321 

War !  On  Wednesday  morning,  April  9th,  the  regiment  was  re 
lieved  and  returned  to  the  former  encampment,  but  found  it  stripped 
of  every  thing  that  could  be  carried  away.  After  three  days  and 
nights  spent  in  buttle,  watching,  labor  and  exposure,  hungry,  weary 
and  worn  out,  the  40th  returned  to  learn  that  it  was  without  cloth 
ing  or  subsistence.  Regimental  and  company  books  and  records 
were  all  destroyed  or  carried  off.  The  regiment  went  into  the  ac 
tion  with  near  four  hundred  and  fifty  men.  The  casualties  were 
forty-four  killed,  one  hundred  and  sixty-six  wounded  and  four  miss 
ing.  It  remained  in  the  original  camp,  drilling  and  doing  guard 
and  fatigue  duty  during  the  reorganization  of  the  army  for  the  ad 
vance  on  Corinth.  On  the  16th  of  April,  while  on  division  drill, 
General  Sherman  in  person  highly  complimented  the  regiment  for 
its  bravery  and  daring  on  the  6th  of  April,  in  charging  the  enemy 
and  holding  its  position  with  the  bayonet  against  the  advancing  foe 
for  half  an  hour  after  its  ammunition  was  exhausted. 

April  29th  the  column  moved  forward,  the  40th  forming  a  part  of 
McDowell's  brigade,  which  occupied  the  right  of  General  Sherman's 
division,  which  was  the  extreme  right  in  front.  It  entered  Corinth 
with  the  division,  May  30th,  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.  On  the  morning  of 
June  2d,  a  complimentary  order  from  General  Sherman  was  road  to 
the  regiment  on  dress  parade,  commending  it  highly  for  the  steady, 
persevering  and  cheerful  manner  in  which  it  had  performed  the  duty 
assigned  it.  On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  it  received  marching 
orders,  and  moved  by  way  of  Corinth  and  down  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad  four  miles,  arid  bivouacked  for  two  days. 

June  *7th,  the  regiment  moved  to  Chavialla,  when  its  camp  and 
garrison  equipage  was  ordered  to  be  forwarded.  Remained  here 
until  June  llth,  when  it  was  again  ordered  forward  in  the  direction 
of  Memphis,  on  the  line  of  the  M.  and  C.  R.  R.  It  arrived  at 
Lagrange,  Tenn.,  June  14th,  and  rested  until  the  21st.  The  weather, 
during  this  march,  was  warm,  the  roads  dusty  and  water  scarce. 
While  at  Lagrange,  and  on  the  march  before  reaching  there,  the 
men  thought  it  an  outrage  that  they  were  compelled  to  act  as  guards 
for  the  residences  and  property  of  rank  secessionists. 

A  succession  of  scouting  expeditions  occupied  the  month  of  July. 
In  one  of  these,  Holly  Springs,  Mississippi,  was  captured.  They 

21 


322  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

moved  in  the  direction  of  Memphis,  which  they  readied  Jnly  21st, 
and  went  into  camp  at  Fort  Pickering.  Here  tliey  were  refitted 
with  clothing. 

Here  Col.  Hicks  was  honorably  discharged,  on  account  of  disa 
bility  from  his  wound,  but  was  reinstated  a  few  months  afterward, 
his  commission  bearing  its  former  date. 

The  vacancies  in  regimental  and  company  offic-cs  filled  by  elec 
tion,  which  resulted  in  the  elections  of  Adjutant  H.  S.  Barnhill, 
Major,  Vice  Major  Smith  resigned  May  2Gth.  For  company  elec 
tions  see  sketch  of  officers.  Win  Elliott  of  S.I -'in,  was  duly  ap 
pointed  Surgeon,  Vice  Dr.  Thompson  resigned  JH ae  3;1.  James 
Roy,  Sergeant-Major,  appointed  Adjutant,  Vice  R.  8.  Barnhill  pro 
moted  to  Major. 

After  the  elections  and  appointments,  the  regiment  remained  in 
camp  in  Fort  Pickering  four  months  and  four  days.  It  was  engaged 
several  weeks  as  Provost  Guard  in  the  city  of  Memphis.  Lieut.  - 
Colonel  Boothe's  health  was  poor  and  Major  Bamhill  commanded 
the  regiment  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  The  M-ijor  was  a  favor 
ite  in  the  regiment.  In  November,  General  Sherman  bcg:m  organ 
izing  the  troops  concentrated  at  Memphis  for  an  ac.tivc  campaign. 
He  moved  his  column  from  Memphis,  November  20th. 

The  40th,  was  still  a  part  of  McDowel's  brigade  of  General  Den 
ver's  division,  and  moved  with  the  column  under  the  command  of 
Major  Barnliill.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Boothe  remained  at  Memphis. 
It  crossed  the  Tallahatchie  River  at  Wyatt's  Ferry,  December  5,  and 
camped  at  College  Hill,  Miss.  Here  General  Denver's  division  was 
attached  to  General  McPherson's  corps,  and  General  Sherman's  com 
mand  returned  to  Memphis.  Before  leaving,  the  General  had  the 
division  paraded  by  regiments,  and  bade  each  an  affectionate  farewell. 
He  again  complimented  the  40th  and  their  battle-scarred  Colonel 
highly,  for  their  gallantry  and  faithfulness  to  duty. 

The  troops  moved  onward  until  the  21st,  when  news  of 
Van  Dorn's  raid  on  Holly  Springs,  cutting  off'  the  supplies,  was 
received,  and  as  a  necessity  on  the  morning  of  the  22rl,  the  column 
reluctantly  retracing  its  steps,  arrived  at  Holly  Springs,  December 
29.  The  40th  was  immediately  assigned  to  duty  as  Provost  Guards 
in  the  village.  While  here  on  duty  Colonel  Hicks  and  Lieutenant* 


THE   FORTIETH.  323 

CJolonel  Boothe,  joined  the  regiment,  January  2d,  Colonel  Hicks  hav 
ing  been  restored  to  his  position  and  rank  as  Colonel  by  the  Secre 
tary  of  War.  January  6th  the  column  moved  by  way  of  Salem  and 
SprLighill  to  Lagrange  and  Grand  Junction. 

January  9th,  Colonel  Hicks  with  his  regiment  and  Cheney's  Bat 
tery  ^  ere  detached  from  the  division  at  Springhill  and  sent  to  relieve 
the  garrison  at  Davis'  Mills,  five  miles  south  of  Lagrange  on  the 
Mississippi  Central  Railroad.  The  remaining  part  of  General  Den 
ver's  division  was  stationed  at  Grand  Junction  and  Lagrange.  The 
40th  passed  the  winter  pleasantly  at  Davis'  Mills.  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Boothe  resigned  and  left  the  regiment  January  13th.  Adju 
tant  Roy  also  resigned  and  left  the  regiment  January  26th.  Major 
Barnliill  was  detached  from  the  regiment  January  13th,  and  appointed 
Provost  Marshal  of  the  District  of  Corinth.  He  was  soon  promo 
ted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Vice  Lieutenant- Colonel  Boothe  resigned, 
but  did  not  join  the  regiment  until  January  15,  1864.  Having  no 
field  officer  to  assist  him,  the  double  duty  of  post  arid  regimental 
commandant  devolved  upon  Colonel  Hicks. 

On  the  7th  of  April,  the  regiment  under  the  command  of  Briga 
dier-General  Smith  started  in  a  southwesterly  direction  on  the  Mis 
sissippi  Central  road  toward  Holly  Springs.  It  proceeded  by  rail 
to  Cold\vat3r  bridge,  which  was  swept  away,  and  thence  on  foot  to 
Laopran«re,  which  it  reached  on  the  25th  and  remained  in  active 

O  CT      " 

duty  until  the  3d  of  June,  when  it  received  marching  orders  and 
was  on  the  move  toward  Memphis.  On  this  march  the  regiment 
passed  through  Moscow,  Germantown,  White's  Station,  Helena, 
Council  Bend  and  Milliken's  Bend,  and  arrived  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Yazoo  River  on  the  llth  of  June.  It  passed  up  the  Yazoo 
River  and  encamped  at  Snyder's  Bluff.  Here  it  was  set  to 
work  fortifying  the  extensive  range  of  hills  surrounding  its  en 
campment,  digging  rifle-pits  along  the  brow  of  the  hills,  and  erect 
ing  strong  earthworks,  behind  which  were  planted  batteries  of 
artillery.  On  the  23d  of  June  it  marched  to  Oak  Ridge  sixteen 
miles  from  Vicksburg,  and  about  eight  miles  from  Big  Black  River. 
On  the  fourth  of  July  it  set  out  on  the  march,  camping  at  night 
near  the  "Big  Black."  It  muved  early  the  next  morning,  but 


324:  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

had  proceeded  but  ^half  a  mile  when  it  came  on  the  rebel  piclets/ 
who  fell  back  across  the  river  and  commenced  a  spirited  skirmish, 
Two  companies  of  the  40th  took  their  position  near  the  bank  of  the 
river,  while  the  enemy  was  on  the  opposite  bank,  and  kept  up  a 
brisk  fire  all  day.  At  night  Colonel  Hicks  was  ordered  with  his 
brigade  to  force  a  passage  across  the  river,  and  drive  the  enemy 
into  their  works.  The  brigade  marched  at  once  to  the  bank  of  the 
river.  The  only  mode  of  crossing  was  to  wade,  but  on  trial  the 
water  was  found  to  be  too  deep.  The  enemy  prevented  their  cross 
ing  until  the  following  morning,  when  they  went  over  by  means  of 
rafts  and  canoes,  but  found  the  foe  had  retreated. 

The  40th  was  among  the  foremost  in  the  advance  on  Jackson, 
doing  its  full  share  in  all  the  preliminary  skirmishing,  and  in  the 
advance  of  the  whole  line  on  the  14th  of  July. 

After  inarching  into  the  city  on  the  17th,  the  40th  went  back  to 
the  ground  it  had  previously  occupied,  and  thence  toward  Vicks- 
burg.  On  the  24th  it  arrived  within  five  miles  of  Big  Black  River, 
On  the  following  morning  crossed  the  river  at  Messinger's  Ford, 
and  went  into  camp  about  one-half  mile  beyond,  where  it  remained 
during  the  remainder  of  the  summer. 

On  the  25th  of  September  the  40th,  together  with  nearly  all  the 
troops  then  under  Gen.  Sherman,  received  marching  orders.  About 
two  o'clock  on  the  28th  it  moved  out  on  the  main  road  to  Vicks- 
burg,  and  the  next  day  marched  through  the  city.  On  the  30th  it 
embarked  on  board  the  steamer  Diana  and  was  off  for  Memphis, 
where  it  arrived  on  the  10th  of  October.  Thence  by  a  series  of 
marches  almost  incredible,  via  Corinth,  luka,  Florence,  over  the 
mountain,  and  on  by  forced  marches  to  take  its  share  in  the  battle 
of  Missionary  Ridge,  which  it  did  most  gallantly. 

Thence  there  was  another  series  of  marches  terminating  at  Scotts- 
boro,  Alabama,  December  24th,  where  the  regiment  went  into  winter 
quarters.  On  the  1st  day  of  January,  1864,  the  regiment  re-enlisted. 
At  that  date  its  aggregate  strength  was  443.  The  aggregate  re-en 
listments  were  345.  There  are  reported  during  the  two  years  and 
five  months'  service — deaths,  261;  other  casualties,  196;  discharged, 
17 ;  transferred  to  other  commands,  6 ;  missing  in  action  and  de 
sertions,  17. 


SKETCHES    OF   OFFICERS.  325 

Colonel  Stephen  G.  Hicks  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Georgia, 
and  was  practicing  law  in  Salem,  111.,  when  he  entered  the  army 
and  took  command  of  the  40th  regiment.  He  was  with  the  regi 
ment  in  all  its  marches,  and  participated  with  it  in  cciinp  life,  and 
at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  was  severely  wounded.  He  remained  in 
hospital  for  some  time,  and  was  taken  to  his  home  in  Sulem,  111., 
where  he  remained  until  the  18$i  of  July,  1862,  when  he  rejoined 
the  regiment. 

On  the  25th  of  October,  Col.  Hicks  received  an  honorable  dis 
charge  on  account  of  disability  caused  by  his  wound,  and  he,  with 
great  reluctance,  took  leave  of  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  his 
home  but  soon  applied  in  person  to  the  War  Department  to  be  rein 
stated,  which  was  done  on  the  13th  of  December,  1862,  allowing 
his  commission  to  date  back  to  its  first  issue.  He  soon  after  rejoined 
the  regiment.  On  the  26th  of  October,  1863,  Col.  Hicks  received 
orders  to  report  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  where  he  took  command  of  the 
post.  He  was  in  command  of  the  2cl  brigade,  15th  army  corps,  for 
some  time,  and  ever  proved  himself  an  efficient  officer,  never  shrink 
ing  from  duty,  and  always  serving  his  country  faithfully. 

Lieutenant- Colonel  James  W.  Boothe,  was  born  at  Huntsville, 
Alabama,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  was  a  resident  of 
Kinmundy,  Marion  County,  Illinois.  He  was  in  command  of  the 
regiment  during  the  summer  campaign  through  Tennessee.  In  the 
fall  of  1862  his  health  became  seriously  impaired,  in  consequence  of 
which  he  was  honorably  discharged  on  the  12th  day  of  January, 
1863.  He  returned  to  his  home  but  died  very  suddenly  on  the  17th 
of  February,  1863. 

Major  John  B.  Smith  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Illinois,  and 
before  entering  the  army  resided  on  a  farm  near  New  Baltimore, 
"Wayne  county,  Illinois.  In  the  battle  of  Shiloh  he  exhibited  true 
bravery,  commanding  the  regiment  after  Colonel  Hicks  was 
wounded.  On  account  of  ill  health  he  was  compelled  to  resign 
about  the  20th  of  May,  1862,  when  he  returned  to  his  home. 

Chaplain  Richard  H.  Massey  was  born  in  Pike  County,  Indiana, 
and  was  a  son  of  the  Rev.  James  Massey.  At  the  time  of  his  en 
trance  into  the  army,  he  was  an  itinerant  minister  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


326  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

The  Chaplain  was  ever  an  ardent  friend  to  the  Union,  and  soou 
after  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  we  find  him  working  earnest 
ly  for  our  country's  cause. 

He  commenced  his  labors  by  organizing  a  company  of  men  for 
the  service,  in  the  town  where  he  resided,  Mount  Erie,  Wayne  Coun 
ty,  Illinois.  He  was  chosen  Captain,  but  when  the  regiment  was 
organized,  was  appointed  Chaplain  by  the  Colonel,  and  received  a 
commission  accordingly.  Says  an  officer : 

"He  accompanied  the  regiment  on  all  its  toilsome  and  dreary 
marches ;  was  always  ready  to  attend  to  the  wants  of  the  suf 
fering  who  were  confined  in  the  hospitals,  and  wherever  duty  culled 
him ;  always  showed  himself,  by  his  strict  integrity  and  Christian 
conduct  a  true  patriot  and  a  staunch  friend  of  the  soldier." 

FORTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 
The  following:  is  the  original  roster  of  the  regiment : 

o  o  o 

Colonel,  Isham  N.  Haynie  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Thomas  H.  Smith  ;  Major,  Wnu 
W.  Sandford;  Adjutant,  Wm.  Prescott ;  Quarter-Master,  Jonathan  C.  Willis;  Sur 
geon,  Wm.  Hill ;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  Henry  H.  Deshon  ;  2d  Assistant  Surgeon,. 
Thomas  Williams;  Chaplain,  Robert  H.  Manier. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Manning  Mayfield  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Malcolm  J.  Walker ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  F.  Johnston. 

Co.  B — Captain,  Wm.  J.  Stephenson;  1st  Lieutenant,  Ferdinand  D.  Stephcnson ; 
2d  Lieutenant,  Wm.  Sneed. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Lucian  Greathouse  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Robert  P.  Randolph  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Jacob  G.  Stewart. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Wm.  II.  Reddin;  1st  Lieutenant,  Hartwell  P.  Farrar;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Thomas  W.  Anderson. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Jackson  G.  Young;  1st  Lieutenant,  Hiram  B.  Chadwick  ;  2cl 
Lieutenant,  Abner  B.  Smith. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Milton  H.  Lydick;  1st  Lieutenant,  Alex.  L.  Willman  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  R.  Daily. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Wm.  B.  Beall;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edward  Adams;  2d  Lieutenant, 
George  Ranke. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Asher  Goslin  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Sullerd  F.  Sellers;  2d  Lieutenant, 
George  B.  Parker. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Ashley  T.  Galraith ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Elias  M.  Holmes  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Stephen  F.  Grimes. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Benjamin  F.  Reynolds ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Jefferson  Farris ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Wm.  N.  Berkley. 


THE    FOKTY-EIGHTH.  327 

The  Forty-eighth  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry  was  raised  in  the 
southern  part  of  tlu  State,  and  organized  at  C.imt>  Butler,  Illinois, 
in  the  month  of  September,  1861.  It  left  Camp  Butler  on  the  llth 
of  November  abo.it  nine  hundred  strong,  and  arrived  at  Cairo,  111., 
where  it  went  into  camp  on  the  13th,  and  remained  there  until  Jan 
uary  11,  1862.  It  then  moved  with  Ge°n.  Grant's  command  down  the 
Mississippi  River  to  Fort  Jefferson,  Ky.,  returning  the  21st  of 
March,  but  soon  left  camp  again  with  the  expedition  of  Gen.  Grant 
up  the  Tennessee  River  to  Fort  Henry. 

Gan.  Me Clernand  gave  this  regiment  the  credit  of  being  the  first 
Federal  regiment  th-it  ever  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  Tennessee. 
This  was  at  Camp  II  illeek,  six  miles  below  Fort  Henry.  It, 
with  the  rest  of  Gen.  Me  demand's  army,  moved  into  Fort  Henry 
February  Cth,  after  Tighlman  had  surrendered  to  the  gunboats. 

On  the  llth  of  that,  month  it  moved  toward  Fort  Donelson,  and 
on  the  following  day  arrived  close  under  the  works.  On  the  13th, 
it,  together  with  the  49th  and  17th  Illinois  regiments,  made  the 
charge  on  the  works  of  the  enemy. 

It  was  with  Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  on  the  15th  of  February  in 
his  defense  agiinst  Buckner,  when  he  attempted  to  leave  the  Fort. 
The  loss  on  this  occasion  was  eight  killed,  thirty-one  wounded  and 
three  missing.  Among  the  killed  was  Lieut.-Col.  Thomas  II.  Smith, 
who  had  always  proved  himself  a  gallant  officer  and  a  courteous 
gentleman. 

On  the  sixth  of  March  the  regiment  embarked  on  the  Tennessee 
River,  and  sailing  up  that  stream  arrived  at  Savannah,  Tenn.,  on 
the  12th,  and  on  the  21st  moved  to  Pittsburg  Landing.  It  took  a 
gallant  part  in  the  buttle  of  Shiloh,  as  we  have  seen.  It  lost  in 
this  battle  half  its  numerical  strength.  Lieut.  Holmes,  of  Co.  I, 
was  among  the  killed,  and  Col.  Haynie  and  Lieut.-Col.  Sandford 
among  the  wounded. 

It  advanced  on  Corinth  with  Gen.  Halleck's  army,  frequently 
changing  brig-ide  commanders,  Generals  Fowler,  Logan,  Judah, 
Marsh  and  Ross  taking  the  command  at  different  times.  It  arrived 
at  Bethel,  Tenn.,  Corinth  having  been  evacuated,  on  the  7th  of 
June,  1862.  Here  it  remained,  doing  its  part  toward  "Union 
izing"  the  inhabitants  of  that  place,  until  March  9,  1863. 


328  PATRIOTISM    OF  ILLINOIS. 

A  part  of  the  command  participated  in  the  battles  of  Corinth  and 
Hatchic  and  also  in  several  scouts  after  the  rebel  Forest,  upon  one 
of  which,  an  expedition  to  Lexington,  it  was  absent  for  several 
days,  capturing — not  the  rebel  leader  it  had  hoped  to — but,  in 
the  language  of  Colonel  Greathouse,  "nothing  but  the  measles  and 
the  itch." 

Upon  leaving  Bethel  it  removed  to  Germantown,  and  on  the  7th 
of  June  to  Memphis.  In  a  few  days  it  embarked  for  the  Yazoo 
River,  and  was  soon  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg.  During  the  month 
of  June  the  men  were  digging  trenches  and  fighting,  until  July 
4th,  when  they  moved  toward  Jackson  with  Sherman,  and  on  the 
6th  had  an  engagement  with  the  enemy  at  Black  River  and  crossed 
the  river  in  their  very  face.  The  regiment  arrived  at  Jackson  on 
the  9th,  and  was  engaged  in  skirmishing  with  Johnston's  forces 
until  the  16th,  at  which  time  it  participated  in  the  general  charge 
against  the  works  of  the  rebels,  losing  twenty-five  in  killed  and 
wounded.  Among  the  killed  was  Major  W.  J.  Stephenson,  who  fell 
while  gallantly  performing  his  duty  with  his  "back  to  the  heath  and 
his  feet  to  the  foe."  He  was  a  chivalric,  faithful,  and  efficient  offi 
cer,  ever  ready  when  duty  called. 

From  Jackson  by  the  way  of  the  Black  River,  where  it  ar 
rived  July  2-1-,  1863.  It  remained  at  this  place  and  Oak  Ridge 
until  September  28th,  when  it  moved  up  the  Mississippi  to  Vicks 
burg.  It  left  the  latter  place  on  the  first  of  October  and  ar 
rived  at  Memphis  on  the  9th.  On  the  llth  of  the  same  month  we 
find  it  on  the  march  toward  Corinth,  still  in  Gen.  Smith's  division, 
in  whose  command  it  had  been  since  March  9,  1863,  Gen.  Corse 
now  temporarily  commanding. 

It  arrived  at  Corinth  October  18th,  and  at  luka,  twenty-five  miles 
east,  on  the  20th.  On  the  26th  it  moved  to  East-port,  and  then 
crossed  the  Tennessee  River,  moving  with  the  rest  of  Sherman's 
command  via  Florence,  Rogersville,  Fayetteville  and  Manchester  to 
Dechard,  where  it  joined  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  Leaving 
Dechard  November  10th  "the  boys"  went  to  Stephenson  and  from 
there  to  Bridgeport,  where  they  left  every  thing  they  had  in  their 
posession,  excepting  their  guns  and  cartridges,  and  moved  across 
the  Tennessee  River  south  to  Trenton,  Ga.  They  dislodged  the 


THE  FORTY-EIGHTH.  329 

enemy  from  this  place,  and  that  part  of  Lookout  Mountain,  and  then 
went  up  the  Lookout  Valley.  On  the  20th  of  November,  crossed 
the  Tennessee  River  north  to  Cumberland,  and  on  the  22d  and  23d 
they  obtained  a  fresh  supply  of  rations  and  cartridges,  and  again 
crossed  that  river  south,  in  scows,  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  and 
on  the  same  day  they  occupied  Mt.  Allison  before  Bragg  came  up. 

They  fought  their  share  in  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  on  the 
25th  of  November,  pursuing  the  enemy  long  before  day  on  the  26th 
toward  Ringgold,  and  up  the  railroad.  They  burned  the  bridges  on 
the  28th,  and  on  the  day  following  started,  icithout  rations,  blankets, 
or  shoes,  over  the  frozen  ground,  to  the  relief  of  Burnside  at  Knox- 
ville. 

They  returned  to  Chattanooga  on  the  17th  of  December,  by  the 
way  of  Lookout  and  Mount  Marrows,  and  the  next  day  to  Bridge 
port,  thence  on  foot  to  Scotsboro,  Alabama,  where  they  arrived  in 
January,  1864. 

With  the  exception  of  thirty-five — out  of  four  hundred  and  fifty 
— the  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  and  left  the  South  for  their 
homes  on  the  24th  of  January  for  the  purpose  of  recruiting.  They 
returned  after  an  absence  of  two  months  eight  hundred  strong, 
ready  to  enter  the  service  again,  and  to  battle  for  the  right  until  the 
rebellion  is  no  more. 

Colonel  Lucien  Greathouse  was  born  at  Carlinville,  Illinois,  June 
7,  1842.  He  attended  the  common  schools  of  that  place  until  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  eleven,  at  which  time  he  entered  college  at 
Lebanon,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  for  two  years.  He  then  en 
tered  the  University  of  Indiana  and  was  graduated  at  the  early  age 
of  sixteen.  He  soon  after  commenced  the  study  of  law  and  in  1860 
was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

Ere  he  had  reached  his  nineteenth  year,  the  rebellion  broke  out, 
and  the  cry  "  To  arms !"  reached  us.  Young  Greathouse,  full  of 
patriotism,  could  not  listen  to  the  appeal  for  soldiers  without  any 
response.  He  was  among  the  first  to  leave  his  home  and  friends  for 
the  glorious  cause,  and  we  find  him  commencing  his  military  career 
as  a  private  in  the  Eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  a  three  months'  regiment, 
but  he  was  soon  promoted  to  corporal  for  gallantry  while  in  camp. 

Having  served  his  time  and  returned  home  on  September,  1861, 


330  PATRIOTISM  OF    ILLINOIS. 

he  ag.iin  entered  the  service  as  Captain  of  Company  C,  Forty- 
eighth  Illinois  Regiment,  but  was  soon  promoted  ta  Major,  and 
shortly  after — November  21 — to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  which  rank  he 
held  until  February  28,1864.  Ha  then  received  the  promotion  to 
the  Colonelcy  of  the  regiment,  which  office  he  had  well  earned  by 
faithfulness  to  his  duty.  He  had  accompanied  the  regiment  in  all 
their  dreary  and  toilsome  marches,  had  shared  with  them  their  many 
privations,  and  had  ever  shown  himself  a  firm  patriot  and  a  true 
soldier. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

HISTORY  OF  GEN.  MITCHELL'S  CAMPAIGN — THE  MARCH  UPON  HUNTSVILLF. — SPLENDID 
MAKCII  OF  GEN.  TURCHIN'S  BRIGADE — ILLINOIS  IN  THE  ADVANCE — SURPRISE  AND 
CAPTURE  OF  KUNTSVILLE — GEN.  TURCHIN'S  OCCUPATION  OF  TUSCUMBIA — His  RETRO 
GRADE  MOVEMENT — OCCUPATION  OF  ATHENS — REFUTATION  OF  MALICIOUS  CHARGES — 
THE  BATTLE  OF  BRIDGEPORT — COMPLETE  SURPRISE  AND  ROUT  OF  THE  REBELS — CLOSE 
OF  THE  CAMPAIGN — GEN.  NEGLEY  s  EXPEDITION — ILLINOIS  AGAIN  IN  THE  ADVANCE — 
THE  SHELLING  OF  CHATTANOOGA — LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  GEN.  TURCIIIN. 

THERE  was  one  division  of  General  Buell's  army,  which, 
although  co-operating  with  the  movements  of  the  main  army 
in  its  operations  at  Pittsburg  Landing  and  Corinth,  detailed  in  the 
15th  chapter,  yet  occupied  a  distant  part  of  the  field  and  carried  on 
virtually  an  independent  campaign,  sufficiently  so  to  warrant  an  in 
terruption  of  chronological  sequence,  and  the  devotion  of  a  separate 
chapter  to  the  development  of  that  campaign.  We  therefore  return 
to  Nashville. 

General  Mitchell  left  at  the  same  time  with  the  main  army,  but 
took  the  road  to  Murfreesboro,  at  which  point  he  remained  until  the 
4th  of  April,  building  bridges,  putting  roads  into  repair,  and  organ 
izing  and  stripping  his  army  for  the  impending  campaign.  Long 
before  this  time,  the  rebel  force  which  had  occupied  Murfreesboro, 
had  withdrawn  and  joined  Beauregard  on  the  new  southern  line  of 
defense. 

On  the  4th,  General  Mitchell  marched  to  Shelby ville,  county  seat 
of  Bedford,  Tennessee,  twenty-six  miles  distant,  and  on  the  7th  ad 
vanced  to  Fayetteville,  twenty-seven  miles  further  on,  which  places 
he  occupied  without  opposition.  On  the  8th,  fifteen  miles  beyond 
Fayetteville,  he  crossed  the  state  line  of  Alabama.  Huntsville  was 
now  the  objective  point,  the  occupation  of  which  would  sever  the 
main  line  of  communication  between  the  rebel  armies  in  Virginia 


332  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

and  Mississippi.  It  was  expected  that  its  occupation  would  be  se 
cured  only  at  fearful  cost.  It  was  a  railroad  point  of  vital  importance 
to  the  rebels,  and  one  which  it  was  supposed  would.be  guarded  with 
sleepless  vigilance,  and  defended  to  the  last  extremity.  Upon  t\\:\: 
road  the  rebels  had  accumulated  nearly  all  the  rolling  stock  of  all 
the  railroads  from  Bowling  Green  southward,  besides  what  belonged 
to  the  road  itself,  and  the  rapid  transportation  and  concentration  of 
troops  at  any  given  point  was  therefore  a  matter  of  comparative 
ease.  Should  reverse  happen  to  either  of  our  armies  in  Virginia  or 
Mississippi,  the  destruction  of  Gen.  Mitchell's  army  was  almost  cer 
tain.  But  in  the  midst  of  all  these  anxieties,  a  man  stepped  forward 
who  was  never  anxious,  who  never  doubted  of  success,  one  bred  to 
arms,  and  who  believed  that  success — aU  other  tilings  being  equal — 
could  always  be  achieved  by  celerity  of  movement,  and  strength 
and  suddenness  of  blow.  If  these  are  elements  of  strategy,  lie  was 
eminently  strategetic.  That  man  Avas  General,  then  Colonel,  John 
Basil  Turchin.  He  conceived  that  Huntsville  might  be  taken  with 
out  a  struggle,  and  sought  permission  of  General  Mitchell  to  march 
thither  with  his  brigade,  consisting  of  the  19th  and  24th  Illinois, 
18th  Ohio,  37th  Indiana,  the  4th  Ohio  Cavalry,  Colonel  Keimett, 
and  Captain  Simonsoirs  battery.  The  permission  was  granted. 
Taking  two  days'  rations,  his  brigade,  the  gallant  19th  and  21th 
Illinois  in  the  advance,  left  Fayetteville  at  6  o'clock,  A.  M.,  on  the 
10th,  Colonel  Sill's  brigade  and  the  Loomis'  battery  following 
closely,  and  the  other  brigade,  General  Lytle's,  at  a  greater  dis 
tance.  The  weather  was  cool,  but  the  roads,  if  by  paths  can  be 
called  roads,  were  in  a  frightful  condition.  Onward  the  troops 
toiled  through  swamps,  morasses  and  almost  impenetrable  forests, 
over  rocky  and  precipitous  hills,  to  descend  again  into  swamps,  bog 
holes  and  thick  forests.  The  progress  was  slow"  and  painful.  The 
trains  were  frequently  mired.  Often  it  became  necessary  to  hitch 
the  mules  of  two  or  three  teams  to  a  single  wagon,  and  haul  them 
singly  through  the  swamps  and  up  the  steep  hills.  In  some  places 
it  was  necessary  to  drag  the  guns  by  hand.  But  the  troops  made 
no  complaint.  The  indomitable  spirit  and  untiring  energy  of  Tur 
chin  seemed  to  pervade  his  troops  individually,  and  still  they  toiled 
on  though  weary  and  heavy  laden. 


THE    CAPTURE    OF   HTJNTSYILLE.  333 

That  night  Tin-chin's  brigade  rested  but  little.  No  tents  were 
pitched.  The  men  threw  themselves  upon  the  ground  around  their 
camp  fires  until  the  moon  went  down,  and  then  in  the  darkness,  the 
shrill  bugle  call  summoned  them  to  the  march  again.  Tho  roads 
became  better  and  progress  was  more  rapid.  About  six  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  the  vicinity  of  Huntsville  was  reached,  the  city  being 
visible  behind  a  beautiful  forest  of  cedars.  An  advance  force  of  the 
cavalry,  with  a  section  of  the  battery  in  charge  of  Captain  Simon- 
son  himself,  assisted  by  Lieutenant  M.  Allen,  commanding  the  sec 
tion,  the  whole  under  charge  of  Colonel  Kennett,  first  caught  sight 
of  the  town.  Captain  Simonson  placed  his  battery  in  position  on 
the  side  of  one  of  the  hills  on  the  Meridianville  road,  and  the  little 
force  moved  forward  as  silently  as  possible  and  on  the  double  quick, 
Two  locomotives,  with  trains  attached,  made  their  appearance  upon 
the  railroad  moving  towards  Stevenson.  The  first  one  crowded  on 
steam  and  made  its  escape.  The  second,  however,  was  brought  to 
by  a  shot  from  the  battery  and  captured  with  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine  prisoners.  The  escaped  train  was  chased  ten  miles  by  a  squad 
of  the  cavalry  but  the  iron  horse  was  too  fleet.  The  infantry  had 
coine  up  while  this  was  going  on,  and  Colonel  Mihalotzy  of  the  24th 
Illinois  sent  a  detachment  to  tear  up  the  track  in  the  direction  of 
Decatur,  so  that  the  escape  of  any  more  trains  was  effectually  pre 
vented. 

The  word  was  now  "  On  to  the  town !"  The  cavalry  force  was  in 
stantly  in  motion  and  an  excited  race  ensued  for  the  honor  of  the 
first  entree.  Three  troopers  gained  the  honors,  rushing  into  the 
town  far  in  advance  of  the  rest  of  the  force,  and  finding;  a  large 

O  O 

number  of  rebel  soldiers  sleeping  about  a  train,  one  hundred  and 
seventy  of  whom  they  actually  captured,  including  a  Major  Cavan- 
augh,  six  captains  and  three  lieutenants.  The  rebel  Major  had  been 
home  for  recruits  and  was  en  route  for  Virginia  to  fill  up  his  regi 
ment.  It  is  safe  to  assume  his  recruits  never  reached  their  destina 
tion,  and  that  his  chagrin  was  fully  as  deep  as  the  merriment  of  his 
captors.  The  surprise  was  complete.  The  citizens  were  asleep, 
quietly  dreaming  of  future  Southern  independence  or  troubled  with 
Yankee  nightmares,  when  our  troops  entered.  The  clatter  of  the 
cavalry  as  they  swept  through  the  streets,  and  their  triumphant 


334  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

shouts  of  victory  awoke  them  from  their  slumbers,  and  they  flocked 
to  the  doors  and  windows,  rubbing  their  eyes  and  whispering  to  ouch 
other  the  unwelcome  news.  Men  rushed  into  the  streets  half 
dressed,  women  fainted,  the  children  screamed,  and  the  negroes 
were  in  ecstasies.  There  was  an  absolute  reign  of  terror  for  a  short 
time,  the  inhabitants  uncertain  as  to  what  their  fate  might  b3  at  the 
hands  of  their  sudden  and  unexpected  visitors.  Only  the  cavalry 
force  as  yet  occupied  the  town,  and  the  Mayor  unaware  of  the  bri 
gades  behind,  plucked  up  courage  and  consoled  his  demoralized 
constituents,  by  assuring  them  he  should  send  for  a  rebel  cavalry 
force  near  by  and  have  the  intruders  expelled  before  night.  During 
the  forenoon,  however,  the  whole  army  entered,  and  the  Mayor  gave 
up  his  design.  Colonel  Gazley,  of  the  37th  Indiana,  was  appointed 
Provost  Marshal  and  his  regiment  occupied  the  place  as  a  garrison. 
Tranquillity  was  restored,  and  an  examination  of  the  prize  which  had 
fallen  like  overripe  fruit  into  our  hands,  showed  that  seventeen 
fine  locomotives,  sixteen  of  them  in  running  order,  and  one  hundred 
and  fifty  cars,  besides  an  immense  amount  of  railroad  and  war  mate 
rial,  were  the  results  of  General  Turchiirs  well  planned  and  well  exe 
cuted  expedition.  General  Mitchell  made  good  use  of  his  rolling 
stock.  Before  the  close  of  the  day,  our  troops  had  made  several 
railroad  excursions  into  the  interior,  and  one  hundred  miles  of  the 
Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad,  stretching  in  one  direction  as  far 
as  Stevenson  and  hi  the  other  a,s  far  as  Decatur,  were  in  our  pos 
session. 

From  Decatur  Gen.  Turchin  pushed  on  and  occupied  Tuscurnbia. 
The  operations  were  summed  up  by  Gen.  Mitchell  in  his  thanks  to 
his  soldiers,  as  follows:  "You  have  struck  blow  after  blow  with  a 
rapidity  unparalleled.  Stevenson  fell,  sixty  miles  to  the  east  of 
Huntsville.  Decatur  and  Tusctimbia  have  been  in  like  manner  seized 
and  are  now  occupied.  In  three  days  you  have  extended  your  front 
of  operations  more  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  and  your 
morning  gun  at  Tuscumbia  may  be  heard  by  your  comrades  on  the 
battle-field  made  glorious  by  their  victory  before  Corinth." 

But  this  very  extension  of  his  line,  although  it  made  him  a  Major- 
General  and  his  force  an  independent  corps,  was  fraught  with  great 
and  imminent  danger.  With  the  number  of  troops  at  his  command, 


THE   ATHENS   AFFAIR.  335 

it  was  impossible  for  him  to  hold  this  long  line  of  railroad.      The 
enemy  bjgau  to  gather  in  force  and  threaten  him.     On  the  right 
skirmishing  was  frequent.      On  the  left,  at  Chattanooga,  both  his 
rear  and  Nashville    were  threatened.     In  his  front,  cavalry  were 
harassing  him.     No  reinforcements  came.     Supplies  were  obtained 
with  difficulty,  and  subsistence  forwarded  to  him  by  Gen.  Ilalleck 
had  baen  destroyed  to  save  it  from  the  enemy.     Gen.  Turchin  found 
his  position  at  Tuscumbia  untenable,  and   although  his  spirit  chafed 
against  it,  he  reluctantly  determined  on  the  23d  to  fill   b.ick.      On 
the  24th  he  reached  Jonesboro  after  some  severe  fighting  with  the 
cavalry  harassing  his  rear  guard,  and  on  the  26 th  the  bridge  at  Deca- 
tur,  the  only  crossing  of  the  Tennessee  river  east  of  Florence  above 
the  head  of  navigation,  and  west  of  Bridgeport  near   Chattanooga. 
Gen.    Turchin   continued   his   retrograde   movement  to  Iluntsville, 
shortly  after  which  occurred  the  episode  at  Athens,  which  has  been 
made  the  opportunity  for  much  partisan  censure  and  malicious  state 
ment  concerning  the  19th  Illinois.      When  the  19th  entered  Ilunts 
ville,  Athens,  a  small  town  on  the  Elk  river,  a  branch  of  the   Ten 
nessee,  was  occupied  by  the  18th  Ohio,  Col.  Stanley.      They  were 
camped  in  the  race  course  near  the  town,  but  on  one  occasion  neg 
lecting  to  have  pickets  out,  a  squad  of   rebel  cavalry  discovered  the 
omission,  and,  posting  themselves  in  advantageous  positions,  com 
menced  firing  upon  our  troops.      Col.   Stanley,  thinking  that  the 
force  was  much  larger  than  it  really  was,  evacuated  the  place   and 
retired  upon  Iluntsville,  his  avant  couriers  coming  in  with  the  most 
exaggerated  stories  of  the  approach  of  a  large  rebel  force  and  the 
annihilation  of  the  regiment.     The  inhabitants  of  Athens  had  made 
frequent  and  loud  protestations  of  loyalty,  but  the  departure  of  the 
regiment  was  made  the  occasion  of  every  indignity.      The  troops 
were  fired  upon  from  the  windows  of  houses.      Women  jeered  at 
them  with  the  vilest  epithets,  spat  upon  them,  and  the  rabble  fol 
lowed  thtmi,  throwing  filth  and  garbage.      But  in  the  mean  time, 
Gen.  Turchin1  s  brigade  was  ordered  to  occupy  Athens  and  it  was 
done   speedily.      No  enemy  was  found  there,  and  the  inhabitants 
were  again  full  of  protestations  of  loyalty.      This  and  the  remem 
brance  of  the  indignities  heaped  upon  their  comrades,  incensed  the 
troops,  and  some  of  the  regiments,  the  19th  in  particular,  retaliated 


336  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

by  the  destruction  of  rebel  property.  The  malicious  charge  of  the 
ravishing  of  the  inmates  of  a  female  seminary  near  the  town  by 
members  of  the  19th  is  wholly  gratuitous.  At  the  time  of  the  occu 
pation  there  were  but  two  inmates  of  the  institution  within  its  walls, 
the  landlady  and  a  girl,  both  of  whom  were  conveyed,  at  their  own 
request,  to  a  point  farther  south  by  one  of  General  Turchin's  staff. 
Undoubtedly  excesses  were  committed,  but  excesses  are  the  natural 
and  unavoidable  concomitants  of  war,  and  those  at  Athens,  while 
the  provocation  was  extreme,  were  not  more  glaring  than  those 
which  marked  the  early  events  of  the  war.  After  remaining  in 
Athens  three  or  four  we^ks,  the  brigade  occupied  Fayetteville. 

The  fight  at  Bridgeport,  Ala.,  virtually  closed  General  Mitchell's 
campaign.  The  march  to  Bridgeport  commenced  on  Tuesday,  the 
24th  of  April.  The  troops  pushed  eastward  along  the  line  of  the 
railroad  over  roads  so  bad  that  the  artillery  was  often  dragged  by 
hand.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  the  rebel  pickets  were  encoun 
tered  about  three  miles  from  Bridgeport.  They  were  stationed  on 
the  bank  of  a  small  stream,  the  bridge  across  it  having  been  burned, 
and  supported  by  an  infantry  and  two  cavalry  regiments,  the  former 
of  which  engaged  our  advance,  the  33d  Ohio.  After  half  an  hour's 
fighting,  in  which  the  casualties  were  slight,  the  33d  fell  back  un- 
pursued,  as  the  rebels  had  no  means  of  crossing  the  stream.  Gen. 
Mitchell,  in  the  mean  time,  made  a  wide  detour  to  the  left  and  came 
upon  a  road  leading  to  Bridgeport,  following  which,  he  reached  the 
rebel  fortifications  on  the  bank  of  the  Tennessee  and  drew  up  his 
force  in  line  of  battle  under  cover  of  a  hill  which  concealed  him 
from  the  enemy.  The  whole  column  then  advanced,  and  reaching 
the  crest  of  the  hill  discovered  the  rebel  force  with  stacked  arms  at 
its  base,  eating  supper  and  lounging  about,  little  dreaming  of  the 
enemy  so  near  them.  Capt.  Loomis  quickly  and  cautiously  brought 
his  battery  to  bear  upon  the  main  body  of  them.  They  soon  had  an 
intimation  of  what  was  coming,  in  the  shape  of  a  storm  of  grape  and 
canister,  which  went  tearing  through  their  ranks.  Many  of  them 
fled  in  the  wildest  confusion  without  taking  their  arms.  The  main 
body  seized  their  guns  and  tried  to  make  a  stand,  but  again  the  piti 
less  and  terrible  storm  of  grape  and  canister  swept  through  them, 
scattering  death  and  destruction  on  every  hand.  Our  columns  fixed 


&EIST.  NEGLEY'S  EXPEDITIONS.  337 

bayonets  and  swept  down  the  hill-side  like  a  whirlwind,  but  before 
they  reached  the  base  the  whole  rebel  force  broke  and  fled  with  pre 
cipitancy,  managing  to  fire  the  bridge.  Capt.  Loomis  then  placed 
his  battery  in  position  to  receive  the  remainder  of  the  force  stationed 
on  the  railroad.  They  debouched  into  an  open  field,  formed  their 
line  of  battle  and  came  up  within  three  hundred  yards  of  our  forces 
before  they  discovered  their  mistake,  and  then  that  terrible  battery 
informed  them.  A  terrific  fire  of  canister  was  poured  into  them 
and  created  another  panic.  Cavalry  and  infantry  threw  down  their 
arms  and  fled  like  sheep.  Thus  the  battle  of  Bridgeport  was  won, 
and  General  Mitchell  reported  as  follows  to  the  Secretary  of  War : 
"  The  campaign  is  ended,  and  I  nowr  occupy  Huntsville  in  perfect 
security,  while  all  of  Alabama  north  of  the  Tennessee  River  floats 
no  flag  but  that  of  the  Union." 

As  an  appendix  to  his  campaign,  there  were  many  minor  expedi 
tions  of  interest.  Gen.  Mitchell  advanced  towards  Chattanooga 
which  caused  a  retreat  of  the  rebels  in  East  Tennessee — a  step  ren 
dered  necessary,  as  the  loss  of  the  single  line  of  railroad  running 
from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  would  compel  evacuation  above,  as  in 
the  case  of  Bowling  Green.  During  May  and  June,  several  expedi 
tions  were  sent  out  under  Gen.  Negley  against  guerrillas  and  roving 
bands  of  cavalry,  the  results  of  which  may  be  summed  up  as  fol 
lows  : 

On  the  13th  of  May,  Gen.  Kegley's  expedition  from  Pulaski,  sup 
ported  by  Gen.  Lytle's  expedition  from  Athens,  entered  Rogersville, 
Ala.,  driving  the  enemy  across  the  Tennessee  and  destroying  a  por 
tion  of  their  ferry  boats.  On  the  29th  of  May,  he  again  started 
from  Columbia,  Tenn.,  for  the  purpose  of  making  an  expedition  into 
East  Tennessee  with  the  intention  of  threatening  Chattanooga  and 
dispersing  rebel  cavalry.  He  reached  Fayetteville  on  the  31st, 
where  Gen.  Tur chin's  forces  joined  the  expedition,  and  thence  re 
sumed  his  march  to  Salem,  which  he  reached  on  the  following  day. 
The  next  day  he  arrived  at  Winchester.  Passing  through  Winches 
ter,  he  encamped  at  Cowan,  on  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga 
Railroad,  on  a  stream  called  the  Burning  Fork,  a  tributary  of  the 
Tennessee  River,  the  bridge  over  which  had  been  burned.  The 
stream  was  easily  forded,  however,  on  the  4th,  and  the  army  crossed 

the   Cumberland  Mountains,   arriving   at  Jasper,  Marion   County. 
22 


338  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

Passing  through  Jasper,  Gen.  Negley  encamped  at  the  foot  of  the 
Waldron  Ridge,  a  spur  of  the  Cumberland  Mountains. 

The  following  morning  he  commenced  crossing  and  first  obtained 
a  glimpse  of  the  enemy.  At  the  foot  of  the  mountains  the  pickets 
of  the  rebel  General  Adams'  brigade  of  cavalry  were  encountered. 
After  a  brisk  firing  the  rebel  pickets  fell  back,  and  the  main  body 
came  forward  preparatory  to  a  charge.  General  Negley  opened 
upon  them  with  shell.  At  the  very  first  fire  they  fell  back  in  confu 
sion  and  were  hotly  pursued  by  our  cavalry  under  Lieut.  Wharton. 
The  enemy  were  driven  two  miles  before  they  were  readied,  but 
our  cavalry  at  last  succeeded  in  overtaking  them,  and  charged  upon 
them  with  the  saber,  killing  many  and  taking  many  prisoners.  The 
rebels,  in  their  headlong  flight,  threw  away  every  tiling  that  could 
impede  them,  and  the  woods  and  roads  were  strewn  for  miles  with 
sabers,  pistols,  haversacks  and  rations.  Gen.  Adams,  commanding 
the  rebels,  lost  his  hat,  horse  and  sword.  His  brother  \vas  killed. 
Many  of  the  fugitives  did  not  stop  short  of  Chattanooga,  a  distance 
of  thirty  miles.  After  pursuing  them  three  miles,  the  Union  forces 
returned  to  the  foot  of  the  mountains  and  camped  for  the  night 
upon  a  plateau  called  Sweden's  Cove. 

On  the  next  day  General  Negley  proceeded  towards  Chattanooga. 
He  arrived  opposite  the  place  on  June  7th,  and  on  the  afternoon  of 
that  day  proceeded  to  reconnoiter.  He  ascertained  that  there  was 
a  large  force  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  which  had  crossed  to 
attack  the  19th.  This  regiment  had  performed  a  characteristic  feat 
by  discovering  a  shorter  path  across  the  mountains  than  that  pursued 
by  the  main  body,  and  had,  consequently,  by  striking  out  for  them 
selves,  got  to  Chattanooga  first.  The  19th  and  24th  Illinois  were 
deployed  as  skirmishers  to  feel  the  enemy,  and  went  down  the  hill 
as  coolly  as  if  on  dress  parade.  The  enemy,  although  in  strong 
force,  did  not  wait  to  feel  the  touch  of  the  19th,  but  immediately 
recrossed  the  river.  General  Negley  at  once  placed  his  artillery  in 
a  position  commanding  the  town.  About  5  o'clock  p.  M.,  a  brisk  fire 
was  kept  up  between  the  enemy's  riflemen  and  the  19th  and  24th, 
still  acting  as  skirmishers.  General  Negley  ordered  his  batteries  to 
open  and  a  fierce  cannonading  ensued,  kept  up  for  two  hours,  during 
which  time  all  the  enemy's  guns  were  silenced,  three  of  them  hav- 


GEN.    J.    B.    TURCHIN.  339 

ing  been  dismantled.  The  shelling  was  continued  for  two  or  three 
days,  but  the  place  finally  had  to  be  abandoned,  owing  to  the  diffi 
culty  experienced  by  General  Negley  in  procuring  supplies. 

On  the  advance  of  General  Buell,  this  division,  under  General 
Mitchell,  was  placed  under  General  Rousseau,  and  General  Mitchell 
was  ordered  to  report  at  Port  Royal,  S.  C. 

A  brief  sketch  of  the  life  and  character  of  one  who  was  so  "lar^e 

O 

a  part"  of  this  campaign,  whose  military  genius  pervaded  all  its 
movements,  mid  whose  energy  gave  to  it  its  success,  will  fittingly 
close  our  narrative. 

John  Basil  Turchin  was  born  in  the  valley  of  the  Don,  Russia, 
Jan.  18,  1822.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  attended  the  military 
school  at  St.  Petersburg,  where  he  obtained  the  rudiments  of  his 
military  education.  After  his  graduation,  he  received  a  Lieutenant's 
commission  in  the  Russian  army.  His  precocious  military  talent 
rapidly  gained  him  promotion,  and  he  was  soon  elevated  to  the  rank 
of  Captain  on  the  general  staff,  when  he  again  entered  the  military 
academy  and  remained  there  three  years,  finishing  the  theoretical 
parts  of  his  education.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Crimean  war  he  re 
ceived  an  appointment  on  the  staff  of  the  Crown  Prince — the  pres 
ent  Emperor  of  Russia — corresponding  in  our  service  to  the  first 
assistant  adjutant  general  to  a  commander  of  division.  The  plan 
adopted  for  the  defenses  of  the  coast  of  Finland  was  prepared  by 
him,  and  to  him  was  entrusted  the  superintendence  of  their  con 
struction.  They  are  probably  among  the  most  elaborate  and  scien 
tific  specimens  of  military  engineering  in  Europe, 

Having  imbibed  democratic  ideas  at  an  early  age,  he  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1856,  and  was  employed  in  the  engineering  depart 
ment  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  a  corporation,  by  the  way, 
which  has  furnished  four  prominent  generals  to  the  service  in  the 
present  war — Banks,  Burnside,  Turchin  and  McClellan.  When  the 
war  broke  out  for  the  defense  of  those  same  democratic  ideas  which 
had  led  him  to  abandon  his  fatherland,  he  entered  heartily  into  the 
movement,  and  in  July,  1861,  was  appointed  Colonel  of  the  19th 
Illinois,  one  of  the  best  drilled,  most  marched,  heaviest  battle- 
scarred,  and  worst  abused  regiments  that  ever  sustained  the  honor  of 
Illinois  in  the  field.  During  its  -stay  in  camp  in  Chicago,  it  became 


340  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

celebrated  for  its  excellence  of  drill  and  esprit  du  corps.  Genera! 
Turchin  gave  to  it  his  constant  personal  attention  and  inspection, 
and  was  ever  vigilant  and  unwearied  to  make  it  a  model  regiment. 
He  led  it  through  many  hard,  wearisome  marches  and  severe  battles, 
that  told  fearfully  upon  its  numbers,  but  which  made  its  name  the 
synonym  of  success,  and  finally,  when  court-martialed  upon  the 
charges  of  inferior  officers,  returned  to  his  home,  accompanied  by 
his  faithful  and  gallant  lady,  who  had  shared  his  dangers  and  priva 
tions  upon  the  march  and  in  the  field,  to  be  welcomed  with  princely 
ovations.  While  the  court  martial  was  pending,  he  received  the 
commission  of  a  brigadier- general  from  the  President,  which  was  a 
signal  answer  to  the  charges  against  him. 

General  Turchin  is  a  man  of  medium  stature  and  strong  frame, 
slightly  inclined  to  corpulence,  with  a  massive,  well  formed  head, 
and  a  face  full  of  intelligence.  His  countenance  is  very  expressive 
and  genial,  and  betokens  the  union  of  a  rare  and  delicate  humor, 
with  great  inflexibility  of  will  and  decision  of  purpose.  He  is  im 
pulsive,  full  of  energy,  thinks  and  acts  quickly,  and  is  rarely  pkced 
in  that  position  where  he  cannot  muster  resources  to  meet  its  emer 
gencies.  In  succeeding  chapters  we  shall  see  more  of  this  General, 
and  find  that  a  lion-like  courage  was  another  attribute  of  his  nature. 


OHAPTEE    XVIII. 

N.  BUELL'S  CAMPAIGN — CAPTURE  OF  THE  UNION  GARRISON  AT  MUNFORDS  VILLE — THE 
BATTLE  OP  BOLIVAR,  TENN — SPLENDID  CHARGE  OF  THE  SECOND  ILLINOIS  CAVALRY — 
DEATH  OP  THE  GALLANT  HERO,  LIEUT.-COL.  HOGG — THE  LAST  WORDS  OP  A  BRAVE 
MAN — "FOR  GOD'S  SAKE,  DON'T  ORDER  ME  BACK" — THE  BATTLE  OP  PERRYVILLE — 
How  ILLINOIS  WAS  REPRESENTED — MAGNIFICENT  CHARGE  OP  COL.  CARLIN'S  BRIG 
ADE — THE  HEROES  OF  PEA  RIDGE  IN  THEIR  GLORY — THE  ILLINOIS  REGIMENTS  EN 
GAGED — CLOSING  SCENES  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN — BUELL  SUPERSEDED. 

WE  have  stated  in  a  previous  chapter  that  General  Buell  left 
Corinth  with  the  main  body  of  his  army  about  the  10th  of 
June  1862,  for  the  purpose  of  counteracting  the  movement  of  General 
Bragg  upon  Chattanooga.  Bragg's  army  was  composed  of  three 
corps  under  Maj.-Gens.  Hardee,  Polk  and  E.  Kirby  Smith.  The  di 
vision  of  Gen.  Smith  was  at  Knoxville,  where  it  remained  while  Chat 
tanooga  was  occupied  by  Hardee  and  Polk.  Smith,  moving  from 
Knoxville,  effected  the  design  of  getting  into  the  rear  of  the  Union 
General  G.  W.  Morgan,  at  Cumberland  Gap,  and  thence  advanced 
into  Kentucky.  On  the  21st  of  August,  Bragg  crossed  the  Tennes 
see,  and  turning  General  Buell's  left,  reached  Dunlap  on  the  27th. 
Thence  he  moved  up  the  Sequatchie  Valley  and  reached  Pikeville 
on  the  30th.  On  the  same  day  he  threw  a  large  force  forward  to 
McMinnville,  seventy-five  miles  southeast  of  Nashville.  This  force, 
consisting  of  cavalry,  was  driven  out  however  after  a  severe  con 
test  and  joined  the  main  army  again,  which,  on  the  5th  of  Septem 
ber,  entered  Kentucky  and  moved  on  towards  Bowling  Green.  On 
the  13th  of  September  an  advance  of  this  force  appeared  before 
Munfordsville  and  captured  the  place  and  garrison,  composed  of 
five  Indiana  regiments,  a  company  of  cavalry,  a  part  of  the  4th 
Ohio  infantry,  and  a  section  of  an  Indiana  battery,  the  whole  under 


34:2  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Col.  Dunham,  who  relieved  Col.  Wilder  on  the  second  day,  after  an 
obstinate  defence  of  two  days. 

General  Bnell  deduced  from  the  movements  of  Bragg  that  he 
was  aiming  at  Louisville.  While  the  latter  was  slowly  making  his 
way  towards  the  Cumberland  River,  the  former  was  on  his  left 
flank  at  Lebanon,  protecting  Nashville.  During  all  the  inarch,  Gen. 
Buell  was  harassing  his  rear,  shelled  him  out  of  Woodsonville, 
drove  him  out  of  Munfordsville,  and  followed  him  closely  along  the 
road  from  Nashville  to  Louisville.  Finally,  forced  by  the  need  of 
supplies,  Gen.  Buell  moved  directly  to  the  city,  around  which  lie 
encamped. 

While  these  operations  were  going  on,  some  isolated  events  of 
interest  occurred  in  other  parts  of  the  field.  On  the  31st  of  August 
Brig.-Gen.  Ross,  commanding  at  Jackson,  Tenn.,  received  a  dis 
patch  from  Col.  Crocker,  commanding  at  Bolivar,  that  that  post  was 
threatened  by  a  large  force  advancing  from  the  south,  and  that  Col. 
Leggett  had  been  sent  out  to  attack  the  enemy's  advance.  Colonel 
Leggett's  force  consisted  of  a  section  of  the  9th  Indiana  battery, 
two  companies  of  the  llth  Illinois  cavalry,  under  Major  Puterbaugh, 
four  companies  of  the  2d  Illinois  cavalry  under  the  gallant  Lieut. - 
Col.  Hogg,  and  the  20th  and  78th  Ohio  infantry  regiments.  Col. 
Leggett  engaged  the  enemy  and  spendidly  held  them  in  check  until 
reinforcements  arrived  from  General  Ross.  Two  companies  of  the 
20th  Ohio  were  deployed  to  relieve  the  cavalry,  and  the  artillery  was 
sent  a  mile  to  the  rear  to  await  reinforcements.  About  noon,  the 
enemy,  in  overwhelming  numbers,  made  a  desperate  attempt  to 
flank  on  the  right  and  get  to  our  rear.  Col.  Leggett  took  the  two 
companies  of  the  llth  Illinois  and  the  mounted  infantry  and  passed 
over  the  Middleburgh  road,  where  he  found  the  enemy  advancing  in 
strong  force.  The  infantry  dismounted  and  attacked  them,  and 
after  a  struggle  of  an  hour  drove  them  back.  Just  at  the  close  of 
the  struggle,  four  companies  of  the  78th  and  20th  Ohio  came  up  and 
engaged  the  enemy's  skirmishers.  Leaving  a  sufficient  force  to 
guard  his  left,  Col.  Leggett  massed  the  remainder  of  his  force  on 
the  Middleburgh  road,  where  it  was  evident  the  enemy  was  attempt 
ing  to  break  through  the  fine  and  gain  our  rear.  At  this  time 
Lieut-Col.  Hogg  came  up  with  his  four  companies  of  the  invincible 


DEATH    OF    LIEUT.-COL.    HOGG.  343 

2d  Illinois  cavalry.  He  was  asked  if  he  could  hold  a  position  on 
the  left  against  a  charge  of  the  rebel  cavalry.  The  gallant  hero 
promptly  replied  that  he  could,  and  asked  the  honor  of  taking  the 
position,  which  was  at  once  assigned  him.  He  had  hardly  got  into 
position  before  the  rebels  charged  down  the  road  in  overwhelming 
numbers,  but  under  the  deadly  infantry  fire  were  compelled  to  re 
treat.  They  twice  repeated  the  charge,  but  were  each  time  repulsed. 
They  then  entered  the  field  upon  the  left  and  opened  fire  upon 
Lieut.-Col.  Hogg's  cavalry  and  the  two  supporting  companies  of  the 
20th  Ohio.  The  infantry  and  cavalry  returned  the  fire  briskly. 
Col.  Leggett  then  discovered  that  a  full  regiment  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry  was  forming  with  a  view  of  charging  upon  the  gallant  little 
band.  He  sent  word  to  Col.  Hogg  that  if  he  had  any  doubts  about 
his  ability  to  hold  his  position,  he  had  better  foil  back.  Then  shone 
out  the  splendid  bravery  of  this  more  than  Spartan  hero.  He  sent 
word  back:  "FoR  GOD'S  SAKE,  COL.  LEGGETT,  DOX'T  ORDER  ME 
BACK."  Immortal  words,  O,  dead,  gallant  hero!  Fit  epitaph  for 
so  brave,  so  pure,  so  fearless  a  spirit.  Col.  Leggett  replied :  "  Meet 
them  with  a  charge,  Colonel,  and  may  Heaven  bless  you."  He  im 
mediately  ordered  his  men  to  draw  their  sabers,  and  placing  himself 
at  their  head,  shouted :  "  Forward !  give  them  cold  steel,  boys," 
and  put  spurs  to  his  horse.  Away  they  flew  like  the  wind,  but  their 
Colonel  was  flying  like  the  whirlwind  far  in  advance  of  his  men, 
and  a  prominent  mark  for  the  rebel  sharpshooters.  Nine  balls 
pierced  his  body  and  he  fell,  and  the  next  minute  the  line  came  to 
gether  with  a  fearful  clash  of  arms.  The  enemy  wavered  and  par 
tially  gave  way,  but  Col.  Hogg  had  fallen,  and  there  was  no  other 
to  assume  command,  and  the  cavalry  became  partially  disorganized 
and  commenced  falling  back,  when  Capt,  M.  H.  Musser,  of  Co.  F 
took  command  and  restored  the  line.  Thus  perished  in  the  defence 
of  liberty  one  of  the  bravest  of  the  brave,  without  fear  and  without 
reproach.  A  more  gallant  hero  never  drew  sword.  Chivalrous, 
brave  and  manly,  his  name  is  one  of  the  brightest  in  the  annals  of 
Illinois'  history.  Col.  Leggett,  in  his  official  report,  says :  "  The 
2d  Illinois  cavalry  was  on  the  field  so  short  a  time  I  can  only  partic 
ularize  their  commander,  the  lamented  Lieut.-Col.  Hogg.  A  braver, 
truer  man  never  lifted  his  sword  in  defence  of  his  country.  He 


34:4  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

was  brave  to  a  fault,  and  fell  while  leading  one  of  the  most  gallant 
cavalry  charges  of  the  war." 

But  hi  the  mean  time,  infantry  reinforcements  had  come  up  and 
formed  in  line  to  support  the  artillery.  The  enemy  came  within 
range,  when  the  battery  opened  upon  them  with  shell,  which  caused 
them  to  disperse  and  gave  our  gallant  forces  possession  of  the  field. 
The  victory  was  won,  but  at  a  fearful  price,  for  Lieut. -Col.  Hogg 
was  no  more  to  lead  and  inspire  his  men. 

Immediately  after  the  repulse,  large  bodies  of  the  rebel  cavalry 
attacked  the  various  detachments  scattered  along  the  line  of  the 
Mississippi  Central  Railroad.  At  Medon  Station,  a  barricade  of 
cotton  bales  had  been  constructed  by  Adjutant  Frohoek,  of  the  45th 
Illinois.  On  the  31st  of  August  this  barricade  was  attacked  by  a 
force  of  rebels  numbering  1,500  men,  who  were  gallantly  held  at 
bay  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  of  the  45th,  until  reinforcements 
from  the  Vth  Missouri  arrived  and  drove  the  rebels  from  the  town. 

Immediately  after  the  demonstration  on  Bolivar,  the  force  at 
Estaualga,  under  command  of  Col.  Dennis,  of  the  30th  Illinois, 
was  ordered  to  Jackson,  Tenn.  Col.  Dennis'  command  comprised 
the  30th  Illinois,  commanded  by  Major  Warren  Shedd,  and  the  20th 
Illinois,  commanded  by  Capt.  Frisbie,  and  a  section  of  two  pieces  of 
artillery  and  two  companies  of  cavalry.  On  the  1st  of  September 
his  advance  guard  encountered  seven  regiments  of  rebel  cavalry 
numbering  5,000  men,  while  Col.  Dennis'  force  numbered  only  eight 
hundred.  Col.  Dennis  posted  his  little  band  in  advantageous  posi 
tions,  but  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy  enabled  them  to 
surround  our  troops  temporarily,  and  capture  the  trains.  The  battle 
was  of  four  hours'  duration,  and  resulted  in  leaving  Colonel  Dennis 
master  of  the  field,  having  suffered  a  loss  of  only  five  men,  while 
the  total  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed  and  wounded  was  over  four 
hundred.  Colonel  Dennis,  Capt.  Frisbie,  of  the  20th,  Major  Shedd 
and  Adjutant  Peyton,  of  the  30th,  displayed  undaunted  courage 
and  coolness,  the  latter,  although  severely  wounded,  refusing  to 
leave  the  field. 

But  we  return  to  the  main  operations  of  General  Buell.  From 
Munfordsville,  the  rebels  moved  towards  the  central  portion  of  the 
State,  conscripting  as  they  went  and  gathering  supplies.  On  the  1st 


BATTLE    OF   PEKRYVILLE.  34:5 

of  October,  General  Buell  moved  from  Louisville,  and  on  the  6th, 
after  slow  progress  owing  to  difficulties  of  the  route  and  skirmishes 
with  the  rebel  rear  guard,  arrived  at  Springfield,  sixty-two  miles 
from  Louisville.  On  the  7th,  it  was  reported  to  General  Buell  that 
a  large  Confederate  force  was  at  Perryville,  forty-two  miles  south 
of  Frankfort.  General  Buell  immediately  ordered  an  advance,  and 
the  battle  of  Chaplin's  Hills,  more  generally  known  as  the  battle  of 
Perryville,  ensued.  On  the  7th  a  severe  skirmish  took  place  which 
for  the  time  assumed  the  dimensions  of  a  battle.  On  the  8th,  the 
position  was  as  follows  :  General  Sheridan's  division  had  the  ad 
vance  in  General  Gilbert's  corps,  Rousseau's  and  Jackson's  divisions 
having  previously  advanced  ,by  way  of  Taylorsville  and  formed  a 
line  of  battle,  Jackson  to  the  rear  of  Rousseau  and  forming  the  ex 
treme  left.  McCook's  brigade  was  on  the  right  of  Lytle's  which 
formed  the  right  wing  of  Rousseau's  division.  McCookhad  moved 
forward  early  in  the  morning  with  his  brigade,  accompanied  by 
Barnett's  2d  Illinois'  battery  and  occupied  his  position.  The  85th 
Illinois,  Colonel  Moore,  was  deployed  upon  the  right  and  the  52d 
Ohio  on  the  left.  The  125th  Illinois,  Colonel  Harmon,  was  placed 
as  a  reserve,  and  the  86th  Illinois  of  this  brigade  were  on  picket 
duty.  The  rebel  pickets  opened  a  sharp  fire  on  the  85th  Illinois, 
and  although  this  was  the  first  fight  in  which  they  had  ever  en 
gaged,  they  advanced  like  old  veterans  up  a  steep  hill  side  and  drove 
the  rebels  from  the  crest,  inflicting  a  severe  loss  upon  them.  Irri 
tated  at  the  loss  of  their  position,  the  rebels  massed  upon  the  right 
and  left,  and  commenced  a  furious  fire  of  shrapnel  upon  the  brigade. 
For  an  hour  the  firing  continued,  but  the  brigade  resolutely  held  its 
ground.  As  soon  as  the  position  of  the  rebel  battery  was  dis 
covered,  Barnett's  battery  of  two  ten-pounder  parrotts  came  into 
position  and  silenced  it.  The  rebels  rallied  to  their  guns  three  times, 
but  in  vain,  and  soon  the  fire  of  their  battery  ceased  entirely.  In 
the  meantime,  the  right  wing  of  the  125th  Illinois  was  ordered  up  to 
support  the  battery,  and  did  their  work  splendidly,  and  the  rebels 
retired  leaving  the  brigade  in  possession  of  the  ground  they  had 
Avon.  A  cavalry  force  advanced  in  the  direction  the  enemy  were 
retreating  and  were  soon  furiously  attacked.  The  situation  became 
critical.  The  rebels  pressed  heavily  upon  our  cavalry,  but  the  2d 


346  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

Missouri  came  up  gallantly  to  the  rescue,  and  with  deafening  shouts 
advanced  steadily  upon  the  rebels  who  quailed  before  their  unerring 
and  well  directed  fire,  and  retreated  towards  the  woods. 

As  only  a  division  or  two  had  come  up,  our  forces  remained  in  line 
of  battle  deeming  it  imprudent  to  attack.  The  enemy  in  their  exas 
peration  determined  to  overwhelm  us  before  the  balance  should 
arrive.  At  eleven  o'clock,  A.  M.,  artillery  firing  commenced.  The 
enemy  remained  sullenly  silent  for  a  long  time  but,  finally  opened 
upon  Captain  Loomis'  and  Captain  Simonson's  batteries.  To  tlu- 
extreme  left,  another  of  our  batteries  opened  and  the  enemy  replied 
from  at  least  six  different  positions.  At  the  foot  of  the  hill  just  be 
hind  the  batteries,  Rousseau's  division  was  posted,  Lytle's  brigade 
on  the  right,  most  of  it  to  the  east  of  a  narrow  lane  which  opened 
out  into  the  field  where  Loomis'  battery  was  at  work,  the  9th  bri 
gade  on  the  left  of  the  lane,  and  the  twenty-eighth  brigade  still  fur 
ther  to  the  left,  supporting  the  19th  Indiana  battery.  All  of  these 
positions  were  more  or  less  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire,  but  not  a 
man  flinched.  Suddenly  the  enemy's  firing  ceased  and  there  was  a 
lull  in  the  battle,  but  only  the  lull  which  precedes  the  storm.  At 
two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  cannonading  recommenced  with  terrific  fury 
all  along  the  line,  and  the  enemy's  legions  began  to  emerge  from 
the  cover  of  the  woods.  At  three  o'clock,  Bragg  massed  the  very 
flower  of  the  army,  artillery,  cavalry  and  infantry,  and  made  n  des 
perate  effort,  but  in  vain,  to  break  through  our  lines  to  the  left  of 
our  center.  Buckner  massed  another  and  an  immense  force  against 
Jackson's  division,  and  in  spite  of  the  desperate  resistance  offered, 
by  virtue  of  the  disparity  of  numbers,  broke  through  our  line  at 
that  point.  The  partial  success  of  the  rebels  encouraged  them  to 
renew  the  attack  upon  Rousseau  and  a  desperate  fight  ensued.  The 
rebels  were  in  overwhelming  numbers  and  the  carnage  was  terrible. 
Regiment  after  regiment  was  beaten  back  only  to  rally  again  and 
renew  the  fight.  General  Lytle  fell  in  the  fiercest  of  the  storm. 
The  15th  Kentucky  was  decimated  almost  in  a  minute.  The  10th 
Ohio  was  surrounded  and  cut  its  way  through.  While  the  seventh 
brigade  in  spite  of  its  fearful  losses  was  holding  the  rebels  in  check, 
the  9th  and  28th  brigades  came  to  the  rescue  and  bore  down  upon 
the  enemy.  The  combat  raged  with  great  fury  for  half  an  hour, 


COL.  CABLIN'S  CHARGE.  347 

but  in  the  meantime  on  the  right,  Sheridan  and  Mitchell  had  re 
pulsed  an  attack  and  pursued  the  rebels  beyond  Perryville.  Upon 
the  disastrous  issue  of  this  attack  on  the  right,  the  attack  upon  the 
left  was  abandoned,  and  the  rebels  retired  from  the  field.  About 
sundown,  the  baffled  foe  made  one  last  despairing  attack  upon  Rous 
seau's  division,  but  was  repulsed  by  Loomis'  battery,  and  our  men 
lay  upon  their  arms  expecting  a  renewal  of  the  attack  the  next 
morning.  During  the  evening  General  Crittendon's  corps  came  up, 
but  no  movement  was  made  until  noon  of  the  next  day,  when  it  was 
found  the  enemy  had  retreated  in  the  night.  These  are  the  general 
features  of  the  Perryville  battle.  We  now  purpose  more  particu 
larly  to  trace  the  share  Illinois  had  in  the  combat. 

During  the  afternoon,  General  Mitchell  advanced  his  brigade  in 
which  were  the  59th  Illinois,  Major  J.  C.  Winters;  74th  Illinois, 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Keer  ;  75th  Illinois,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bennett; 
21st  Illinois,  Colonel  Alexander  ;  38th  Illinois,  Major  Gilmer  ;  25th 
Illinois,  Colonel  McClelland,  and  the  35th  Illinois,  Lieutenant-Colo 
nel  Chandler,  and  formed  them  in  position,  supporting  Gen.  Sheri 
dan.  Almost  immediately  on  the  formation  of  the  line,  the  rebels 
advanced  against  Colonel  Carlin's  (38th  Illinois)  brigade,  but  re 
tired  under  cover,  at  the  advance  of  Colonel  Carlin's  skirmishers. 
Colonel  Cariin  was  then  ordered  to  advance  rapidly  to  reinforce 
General  Sheridan  who  was  hard  pressed.  He  pushed  on  through 
a  skirt  of  timber  to  the  open  fields  on  the  right,  and  upon  ascending 
a  hill,  discovered  the  rebels  advancing  in  strong  force  upon  Sheri 
dan's  right.  Colonel  Cariin  immediately  formed  his  brigade,  and  on 
the  double  quick  charged  the  advancing  foe  with  such  impetuosity 
that  their  columns  were  thrown  into  confusion  and  broken.  The 
gallant  Cariin  completely  pierced  their  center,  and  chased  them  for 
two  miles,  pressing  them  closely  until  they  formed  under  the  protec 
tion  of  two  powerful  batteries  on  a  line  of  bluffs.  Finding  that  in 
the  impetuosity  of  his  charge  and  the  ardor  of  his  pursuit,  he  had 
outstripped  all  support  and  isolated  himself,  he  retired  in  safety 
before  the  enemy  could  recover  from  their  confusion.  In  Colonel 
Carlin's  advance,  the  38th,  his  own  regiment,  overtook  and  captured 
an  ammunition  train  and  the  train  guard  of  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
eight  men  and  three  officers.  The  75th  were  fighting  their  first 


34:8  PATBIOTISM    OF  ILLIMOIS. 

battle  and  did  their  work  like  veterans,  while  the  59th  added  to  the 
laurels  they  had  already  gained  at  Pea  Ridge.  General  Mitchell  in 
his  report  paid  an  especial  tribute  to  Major  Gilmer  of  the  38th,  for 
the  skill  and  activity  he  displayed  in  capturing  the  ammunition  train, 
and  to  his  aid  de-camp  Lieutenant  Andrews  of  the  42d,  for  the  able, 
gallant,  and  heroic  manner  in  which  he  performed  his  duties.  In  his 
division,  Surgeon  Hazlet  of  the  59th,  Lieutenant  Johnson  of  the  58th, 
Lieutenant  Blcan  and  Lieutenant  Eels  of  the  75th  died  gallantly  in 
defence  of  the  flag. 

General  McCook,  in  his  report,  honorably  mentioned  his  orderlies, 
George  Richardson,  Avery  Graham  and  George  P.  Jenniss,  of  the 
34th,  as  behaving  with  coolness  and  bravery,  and  recommended 
their  promotion. 

In  the  10th  division  of  the  1st  corps,  the  following  Illinois  regi 
ments  participated  in  the  fight  with  great  credit  to  themselves : 
80th,  Col.  Allen,  and  123d,  Col.  Monroe.  The  former  lost  eleven 
killed,  thirty-two  wounded,  and  thirteen  missing  ;  the  latter,  thirty- 
five  killed,  one  hundred  and  nineteen  wounded  and  thirty-five 
missing. 

In  General  Sheridan's  division,  Barnett's  2d  Illinois  battery  did 
most  excellent  service,  and,  in  conjunction  with  Hezcock's  battery, 
drove  the  enemy's  batteries  from  every  position  they  took.  Colonel 
Greusel,  of  the  36th,  also  behaved  with  great  gallantry,  leading  his 
men  at  ah1  times,  and  infusing  them  with  a  large  share  of  his  own 
coolness  and  bravery. 

In  General  Rousseau's  division,  at  a  critical  period  of  the  fight,  the 
old  fighting  24th  Illinois  was  ordered  up  to  the  support  of  a  weak 
point,  and  went  into  action,  deploying  as  skirmishers  in  a  manner 
which  won  universal  plaudits.  They  were  repeatedly  assailed  by 
overwhelming  numbers,  but  determinedly  and  firmly  held  their  posi 
tion.  Lieut,  William  Quinton,  of  the  19th  Illinois,  detached  for 
signal  duty,  was  also  conspicuous  for  his  bravery,  attending  General 
Rousseau  voluntarily — although  not  his  place  to  do  so — in  the  thickest 
of  the  fight.  Major  Winters  of  the  59th,  was  highly  complimented 
for  his  bravery,  and  Lieut.  West  of  the  39th,  A.  A.  A.  G.  to  Colonel 
Gooding  of  the  30th  brigade,  although  wounded  in  five  different 
places,  refused  to  leave  the  field  until  entirely  disabled.  One 


THE  CLOSE  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN.  349 

hundred  and  fifty-three  out  of  three  hundred  and  twenty-five  of  the 
59th,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-one  out  of  seven  hundred  of  the 
75th  were  lost.  In  every  changing  phase  of  this  severe  and  well- 
fought  contest,  Illinois  soldiers  proved  their  titles  to  the  laurels  they 
had  won  at  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Pea  Ridge  and  Corinth. 

The  remaining  events  of  the  campaign  we  shall  trace  briefly,  to 
preserve  the  unity  of  the  narrative,  although  no  great  battles  were 
fought.  It  was  expected  that  General  Bragg  would  make  his 
next  stand  at  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  a  place  which  was  defensible  in 
front  but  easily  flanked.  Accordingly,  General  Crittenden  was  or 
dered  to  march  to  Dick  River,  as  if  about  to  attack  in  front,  and 
Generals  Me  Cook  and  Gilbert  to  approach  by  different  roads  on  the 
flank  and  compel  Bragg  to  fight.  The  rebel  general,  however,  pene 
trated  the  plan,  owing  to  the  retrograde  movement  of  a  division  of 
General  Crittenden's  corps,  and  on  the  night  of  the  llth  the  evacu 
ation  commenced,  the  rebel  army  moving  toward  Cumberland  Gap. 
There  were  two  lines  of  retreat  converging  to  that  point — one  by 
the  way  of  Richmond  and  Big  Hill,  through  Madison  county,  and 
the  other,  called  the  Crab  Orchard  road,  by  way  of  Mt.  Vernon  and 
B arbour sville,  the  two  roads  converging  at  Pitman's  Junction,  fifty- 
eight  miles  from  the  Gap.  On  the  night  of  the  12th,  General  Buell 
ordered  an  advance  from  Danville,  and  at  1  o'clock  the  army  was  in 
motion  towards  Stanford.  The  advance  arrived  in  time  to  see  the 
rear  of  the  rebel  rear-guard  pass  out  of  the  town  unmolested.  Hav 
ing  checked  the  advance  of  our  army,  and  gained  time  for  the  main 
body  of  the  rebel  army,  they  retired  toward  Crab  Orchard.  On  the 
morning  of  the  14th,  our  army  was  again  on  the  march  and  soon 
reached  Crab  Orchard.  The  Confederate  rear  guard  again  halted 
and  kept  up  a  skirmish  with  our  forces,  during  which  time  the  rebel 
army  was  retreating  unmolested.  Our  advance  the  next  day 
reached  Mt.  Vernon,  Cook's  and  Gilbert's  corps  remaining  at  Crab 
Orchard,  and  the  cavalry  ordered  to  the  rear  in  consequence  of  the 
difficulty  of  procuring  forage.  The  Confederate  forces  rapidly  re 
tired  and  escaped  into  East  Tennessee,  laden  with  the  rich  spoils 
they  had  gathered  in  Kentucky,  and  Buell  fell  back  to  the  line  be 
tween  Louisville  and  Nashville,  where  he  was  superseded  in  his 
command  by  General  Rosecraus. 


OHAPTEE  XIX. 

"GEN.  BUELL  SUPERSEDED  BY  GEN.  ROSECRANS — REORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY — TKF 
MARCH  ON  MURFREESBORO — THE  BATTLE  OF  STONE  RIVER — THREE  DAYS'  FIGHTING — 
PLAN  AND  DETAILS  OF  THE  BATTLE — THE  89TH  ILLINOIS  FIGHTING  AGAINST  FATE — 
"GALLANTRY  OF  GEN.  KIRK'S  OLD  REGIMENT — WOUNDING  OF  GEN.  KIRK— THE  REBEL 
ATTACK  ON  OUR  LEFT— GEN.  NEGLEY  COMES  UP — ILLINOIS  TO  THE  RESCUE — "  WHO 
WILL  SAVE  THE  LEFT?"  "TiiE  19TH  ILLINOIS,  SIR" — MAGNIFICENT  AND  DARING 
CHARGE  OF  THE  19TH — COMPLETE  ROUT  OF  THE  REBEL  RIGHT — CAPTURE  OF  A  CAT 
TERY — THE  CHICAGO  BOARD  OF  TRADE  BATTERY — CASUALTIES,  &c. 

GENERAL  ROSECRANS  assumed  command  of  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland  on  the  27th  of  October.  The  army  was  then  con 
centrated  at  Bowling  Green  and  Glasgow,  one  hundred  and  thirteen 
miles  distant  from  Louisville,  whence  they  moved  to  Nashville,  the  ad 
vance  reaching  that  place  November  7th.  From  that  date  until  Decem 
ber  26th,  the  time  was  occupied  in  completing  the  clothing  of  the  army, 
providing  ammunition,  and  replenishing  the  depot  with  necessary 
supplies  and  in  sufficient  amount  to  ensure  against  delay  or  interrup 
tion,  caused  by  any  breakage  of  the  Louisville  &  Nashville  road,  to 
guard  against  which,  a  strong  force  was  posted  at  Gallatin.  The 
rebels  had  expected  that  Rosecrans  was  going  into  winter  quarters 
at  Nashville,  and  consequently  prepared  their  winter  quarters  at  Mur- 
freesboro,  and  sent  a  large  force  into  West  Tennessee  to  annoy 
General  Grant's  communications,  and  another  into  Kentucky  to 
break  up  the  railroad.  The  absence  of  these  forces  gave  Rosecrans 
an  opportunity  for  an  advance,  which  he  determined  to  improve 
without  delay.  The  situation  was  as  follows:  Folk's  and  Kirby 
Smith's  -^orces  at  Murfreesboro,  Hardee's  on  the  Shelbyville  and 
Nolinsville  turnpike,  while  our  troops  were  in  front  of  Nashville  on 
the  Franklin,  Nolinsville  and  Murfreesboro  turnpike. 


PLAN  OF  THE  BATTLE.  351 

The  movement  began  on  the  26th  of  December.  Me  Cook  after 
severe  skirmishing  gained  possession  of  Nolinsville.  Thomas  fol 
lowed  on  the  right  and  Crittenden  advanced  to  Lavergne.  On  the 
28th,  Me  Cook  moved  to  Triune,  and  Crittenden  to  Stewart's  Creek. 
iSTegley's  division  joined  Crittenden,  and  Rousseau  occupied  Nolins 
ville.  On  the  29th,  McCook  moved  to  Wilkinson's  Cross  Roads, 
six  miles  from  Murfreesboro.  Crittenden  and  Negley  crossed  Stew 
art's  Creek  to  advance  upon  Murfreesboro.  Rousseau  remained  at 
Stewart's  Creek  for  his  trains  to  come  up.  General  Palmer  led  the 
advance  of  Crittenden's  corps,  and  about  three  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  sent  a  message  that  he  was  in  sight  of  Murfreesboro,  and  that 
the  enemy  were  running.  General  Crittenden  was  therefore  or 
dered  forward  to  occupy  Murfreesboro,  but  on  moving  up,  found 
Breckinridge's  main  forces  on  his  front,  and  at  dark  fell  back. 

On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  Rousseau  with  two  brigades  was  or 
dered  down  from  Stewart's  Creek  and  took  his  position  in  the  rear 
of  Palmer's  right.  McCook  moved  forward  from  Wilkinson's  Cross 
Roads  and  joined  Thomas.  At  nine  o'clock  that  night,  the  corps 
commanders  met  at  head-quarters  and  planned  the  battle  of  Stone 
River.  McCook  was  to  occupy  the  most  advantageous  position,  re 
fusing  his  right  as  much  as  possible  and  receive  the  attack ;  Thomas 
and  Palmer  to  gain  the  enemy's  center  and  left,  as  far  as  the  river ; 
Crittenden  to  cross  Van  Cleve's  division  and  advance  on  Breckin- 
ridge  ;  Woods  division  to  move  by  brigades  on  Van  Cleve's  right, 
and  carry  everything  before  them  into  Murfreesboro.  This  would 
give  two  divisions  against  one,  and  as  soon  as  Breckinridge  was  dis 
lodged,  Wood's  batteries,  taking  position  east  of  Stone  River, 
would  dislodge  the  enemy  from  their  works  and  allow  Palmer's 
division  to  press  uhem  back,  while  Thomas,  sustaining  the  move 
ment  on  the  center,  would  advance  on  Palmer's  right,  crushing  the 
rebel  right.  Crittenden's  corps  advancing  would  take  Murfreesboro, 
and  then  moving  westward  get  on  their  flank  and  rear  and  drive 
them  into  the  country  towards  Salem,  with  a  good  prospect  of  de 
stroying  their  army.  This  combination  while  it  gave  us  a  vast 
superiority  on  our  left,  required  for  its  full  success  that  McCook 
should  hold  his  position  for  three  hours. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  the  troops  stood  by  their 


352  PATKIOTISM   Otf   ILLINOIS. 

arms.  The  movement  began  on  the  left.  Van  Clove  crossed  the 
fords  of  the  river,  Wood  prepared  to  sustain  and  follow  him.  In 
the  meantime  the  enemy  massed  against  McCook.  Willich's  and 
Kirk's  brigades  were  crumbled  to  pieces.  Following  them  up,  the 
enemy  attacked  Davis's  division  and  dislodged  Post's  brigade. 
Carlin's  brigade  was  compelled  to  follow,  and  Johnson's  brigade  re 
tired.  A  staff  officer  from  General  McCook  reported  to  General 
Rosecrans  that  the  right  wing  was  heavily  pressed.  He  returned 
with  orders  for  McCook  to  dispose  of  his  troops  to  the  best  advan 
tage  and  obstinately  hold  his  ground.  Shortly  after,  a  second  mes 
senger  arrived  and  announced  that  the  right  wing  was  being  driven. 
General  Thomas  was  dispatched  to  order  Rousseau  to  the  right  and 
rear  of  Sheridan.  General  Crittenden  was  ordered  to  stop  Van. 
Cleve's  movement,  and  Wood  was  directed  to  suspend  his  crossing 
and  hold  Haskell  in  reserve.  Fugitives  and  stragglers  commenced, 
pouring  in  in  such  numbers  that  it  was  soon  evident  McCook  was 
routed.  Crittenden  was  directed  to  send  Van  Cleve  to  the  right  of 

O 

Rousseau  and  Wood  to  attack  the  enemy  on  Van  Cleve's  right,  the 
Pioneer  brigade  in  the  meantime  being  in  the  rear  of  Palmer's  cen 
ter  supporting  Stoke's  Board  of  Trade  battery.  Sheridan  swung 
his  right  around,  repulsing  the  enemy  four  times,  but  getting  out  of 
ammunition  fell  back,  and  replenished  his  empty  cartridge-boxes. 
During  all  this  time,  Palmer's  front  had  also  been  in  action,  the 
enemy  having  advanced  upon  it  several  times. 

At  this  stage  owing  to  the  breakage  of  our  right,  it  became  neces 
sary  to  form  a  new  line.  Rousseau's  and  Van  Cleve's  advance  hav 
ing  relieved  Sheridan,  Negley's  division  and  Graft's  brigade  of  Pal 
mer's  division  withdrew  from  their  original  position  and  took  up  a. 
new  one  in  rear  of  the  front  line.  Hascall  supported  Hazen,  and  Rous 
seau  filled  the  interval  to  the  Pioneer  brigade.  Negley  was  in  re 
serve,  Van  Cleve  west  of  the  Pioneer  brigade,  McCook' s  corps  on 
his  right,  and  the  cavalry  further  to  the  rear  on  the  Murfreesboro 
pike.  The  enemy  attacked  with  infantry  and  cavalry  on  our  ex 
treme  right,  but  were  repulsed  by  Van  Cleve.  After  several  at 
tempts  of  the  enemy  to  advance  on  this  new  line,  which  were  re 
pulsed  as  were  also  the  attempts  on  the  left,  the  day  closed.  We 
had  lost  heavily  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners,  and  twenty-eight 


OCCUPATION    OF    MURFREESBOKO.  353 

pieces  of  artillery,  but  the  enemy  had  been  badly  damaged  and  we 
retained  possession  of  the  original  ground  on  the  left.  At  night,  the 
left  was  retired  to'more  advantageous  ground,  the  extreme  left  resting 
on  Stone  River.  Starkweather  and  Walker's  brigades  were  placed 
in  reserve  on  McCook's  left,  and  McCook  was  posted  on  the  left  of 
Sheridan,  and  next  morning  relieved  Van  Cleve  who  returned  to  his 
position  on  the  left  wing. 

In  this  position,  on  the  1st  of  January,  our  army  awaited  attack, 
but  there  was  no  demonstration  in  the  morning.  In  the  afternoon 
the  enemy  moved  upon  our  right  but  were  repulsed. 

On  the  2d,  the  enemy  opened  from  heavy  batteries  upon  our  cen 
ter,  but  a  well-directed  artillery  fire  silenced  his  batteries.  At  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  a  double  line  of  skirmishers  emerged  from 
the  woods,  followed  by  a  heavy  column  of  infantry  and  three  bat 
teries  of  artillery,  and  made  an  attack  upon  Van  Cleve's  division. 
Van  Cleve  gave  way  and  was  closely  followed  by  the  enemy,  when 
Cnttenden  brought  his  batteries  to  bear  upon  them,  and  ordered  up 
Negley's  division  and  the  Pioneer  brigade  to  meet  the  onset.  The 
firing  was  terrific,  and  the  determined  valor  of  our  men  soon  caused 
the  rebels  to  retreat  more  rapidly  than  they  had  advanced.  Gen. 
Davis's  division  moved  to  attack  the  left  flank  of  the  rebels,  but 
two  brigades  of  Negley's  division,  the  gallant  19th  Illinois  in  the 
advance,  and  Hazen's  brigade  of  Palmer's  division  had  pursued  the 
flying  enemy,  capturing  four  guns  and  a  stand  of  colors.  It  was 
now  after  dark  and  raining,  and  the  pursuit  was  discontinued. 

On  the  3d  it  rained  and  no  advance  was  made  as  the  ground  was 
impassable  for  artillery.  Batteries  were  put  in  position  by  which 
the  ground  could  be  swept,  and  the  Parrott  guns  were  in  range  of 
Murfreesboro.  The  heavy  picket  firing  which  had  been  kept  up  the 
most  of  the  day,  was  silenced  all  along  our  front  by  some  determined 
charges,  one  of  which  was  made  in  splendid  style  by  the  85th  Illi 
nois. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  4th,  news  reached  General  Rosecran& 
that  the  enemy  had  fled  from  Murfreesboro,  and  cavalry  were  sent 
out  to  reconnoiter.  On  Monday,  General  Thomas  advanced,  driving, 
the  rebel  rear  guard  before  him  seven  miles,  while  Me  Cook's 
Crittenden's  Corps  occupied  the  town. 

23 


354:  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

We  have  thus  given  the  bare,  lifeless  skeleton  of  the  battle  of 
Stone  River — a  battle  full  of  brave  deeds  and  gallant  actions,  full 
of  persistent  effort  and  desperate  courage,  and  one  in  which  the 
tide  of  battle  fluctuated  here  and  there,  full  of  painful  uncertainty, 
until  at  its  flood,  under  the  impulse  of  northern  determination  and 
endurance,  it  led  our  forces  to  victory.  It  remains  to  create  a  soul 
in  that  skeleton  by  the  narration  of  the  incidents  of  exalted  patriot 
ism  and  heroic  daring  which  marked  its  varying  phases,  and  plucked 
victory  out  of  the  very  jaws  of  defeat.  To  attempt  to  enumerate  all 
the  splendid  performances  of  Illinois  troops  on  that  bloody  field 
would  require  a  volume,  and  we  therefore  content  ourselves  with 
some  of  the  most  prominent. 

Few  regiments  bore  thomselves  more  superbly  against  an  adverse 
fate  than  the  34th  Illinois,  the  old  regiment  of  the  lamented  General 
Kirk.  Not  ten  minutes  after  the  dawn  of  the  first  day,  the  rebels 
commenced  firing  upon  General  Kirk's  line,  and  soon  advanced  with 
a  heavy  column  directly  upon  the  34th.  The  regiment,  in  the  face 
of  the  overwhelming  force,  advanced  to  meet  the  foe  and  defend 
the  front.  The  rebels  poured  into  it  a  galling  fire,  but  still  they 
stood  their  ground  although  suffering  terribly.  They  poured  volley 
after  volley  into  the  advancing  column,  and  other  regiments  came  to 
their  support.  When  within  thirty  yards  of  the  line  the  rebel  col 
umn  changed  front  and  moved  against  the  right  of  Kirk's  line, 
flanking  it  and  rendering  it  untenable.  The  34th  were  soon  en 
gaged  in  a  hand  to  hand  conflict.  The  strife  over  its  colors  was 
bloody  and  terrific.  Five  color  bearers  fell,  but  again  and  again 
the  old  flag  was  raised  and  flung  to  the  breeze.  Santee,  Wright 
and  Wendell  were  dead.  Lieut.  John  Smith,  of  Company  H, 
rushed  to  save  the  colors  from  the  rebels  and  fell  pierced  by  five 
balls.  Another  soldier  snatched  them  from  the  ground  and  gave 
them  to  a  soldier  of  Edgarton's  battery,  but  he  too  was  shot  and  the 
colors  were  seized  by  traitors.  The  column  next  fell  upon  Edgar- 
ton's  battery.  Capt.  Edgarton  was  formerly  of  Harriett's  Illinois 
battery,  and  displayed  the  Illinois  fire.  He  told  his  men  to  save 
themselves,  and  with  Lieut.  Burwick  stood  by  the  guns,  mowing 
huge  swaths  through  the  rebel  column.  But  he  was  wounded  and 
fell  across  the  trail  of  his  gun,  while  the  rebel  column  swept  on. 


DEATH    OF    COL.    KEED.  355 

General  Kirk  had  his  horse  shot  under  him,  but  mounting  another, 
he  directed  his  men.  The  rebel  column  was  now  close  upon  him, 
and  to  remain  was  either  death  or  capture.  Kirk  fell  back  but  the 
foe  pressed  closely.  He  had  a  second  horse  shot  under  him,  and 
was  severely  wounded  in  the  thigh,  but  still  tried  to  rally  his  men 
who  were  hastening  to  the  cover  of  some  adjacent  timber.  Kirk 
followed  for  a  short  distance,  but  his  wound  exhausted  him  and  he 
was  carried  to  the  rear  bleeding  and  faint,  and  Colonel  Dodge  took 
command.  Major  Dysart,  of  the  34th,  succeeded  in  rallying  a  few 
of  the  men,  but  it  was  impossible  to  hold  the  position  and  they  fell 
back  to  the  Nashville  Pike. 

In  the  mean  time,  a  portion  of  the  34th  had  joined  the  30th  Indiana 
regiment  and  were  making  a  stand,  supported  by  the  79th  Illinois. 
Simonson's  battery,  the  34th  and  29th  Indiana  regiments  also  came 
up  and  formed  in  line.  They  had  hardly  got  into  position  when  the 
rebel  column  came  sweeping  on.  Our  men  fought  with  desperation 
to  stay  this  advance.  Col.  Sheridan  P,  Read,  of  the  79th  Illinois, 
fell,  his  head  pierced  by  a  rifle  ball,  while  gallantly  cheering  on  his 
men.  Colonel  Read  was  from  Paris,  Edgar  County,  and  one  of  the 
bravest  of  the  brave.  He  volunteered  as  a  private  and  was  soon 
appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  in  October,  1862,  was  commis 
sioned  Colonel.  He  died  instantly,  and  died  the  death  of  a  hero. 

It  required  more  than  human  endurance  to  stand  up  against  the 
repeated  attacks  of  this  overwhelming  rebel  column.  It  again 
moved  upon  the  flank  and  hurled  itself  against  the  79th,  which  gave 
way.  Regiment  after  regiment  fell  back.  A  new  line  was  formed, 
but  the  79th  were  again  exposed  to  a  terrific  artillery  fire  and  re 
treated  to  the  Nashville  turnpike,  where  the  second  brigade  was 
rallied.  The  rebels  still  swept  on,  but  reinforcements  had  come  up 
from  Van  Cleve  and  their  advance  was  stayed. 

We  return  to  the  34th  Illinois.  When  the  rebel  column  advanced 
to  attack  this  regiment,  the  reserves  of  the  32d  and  39th  Indiana 
moved  up  to  their  support.  Under  the  galling  fire  General  Kirk's 
pickets  gave  way,  but  soon  reformed,  connecting  with  the  pickets  of 
the  39th.  Again  they  were  forced  back.  The  32d  and  39th  Indiana 
also  made  a  gallant  stand,  but  had  to  fall  back  to  a  new  position. 
During  this  attack  Uv>  musketry  firing  was  also  very  severe  on  the 


\ 


356  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

49th  Ohio  and  89th  Illinois.  The  latter  retired  to  another  locality? 
and  Lieut.-Col.  Hotchkiss  placed  in  position  the  companies  of  Cap 
tains  Comstock,  Willett,  and  Whiting,  and  Lieut.  Wells.  The 
enemy  advanced  upon  them  and  were  received  with  a  furious  fire 
which  momentarily  checked  the  advance.  But  it  was  only  for  a 
moment.  The  enemy  pressed  on  and  the  89th  was  again  compelled 
to  fall  back.  Thus  the  tide  of  battle  ebbed  and  flowed  until  night 
when  the  whole  brigade  bivouacked  in  rear  of  Gen.  Davis'  division. 
On  the  next  day  the  34th  Illinois,  Capt.  Hostetter  commanding,  was 
consolidated  with  the  30th  Indiana. 

We  have  incidentally  alluded  to  the  89th  Illinois,  Lieut.-Col. 
Hotchkiss,  in  connection  with  other  regiments.  Its  movements  in 
this  battle  are  worthy  a  detailed  account.  It  was  in  the  1st  brigade, 
2d  division,  on  the  right  wing,  and  left  Nashville  with  the  brigade 
on  the  morning  of  December  26th,  and  arrived  on  the  night  of  the 
30th,  at  a  point  about  three  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Murfreesboro, 
where  the  brigade  was  put  in  position  on  the  extreme  right  of  the 
right  wing,  at  right  angles  with  General  Kirk's  brigade,  the  regi 
ment  being  formed  in  double  column  in  the  rear  of  the  49th  Ohio. 
At  half  past  five  on  the  morning  of  the  31st  heavy  firing  com 
menced  on  Kirk's  front.  The  front  gave  way  and  rushed  indiscrim 
inately  through  the  ranks  of  the  89th,  closely  followed  by  the  rebel 
column.  The  89th  could  not  deploy  or  change  position  and  the  fire 
was  terrible.  The  gallant  fellows  laid  down  until  their  left  was  un 
covered  of  fugitives  and  the  rebel  column  was  within  fifty  yards  of 
their  position,  when  they  rose  and  delivered  a  well  directed  fire 
which  lowered  the  colors  of  the  rebel  advance.  The  other  regi 
ments  falling  back,  the  order  was  given  to  retire,  which  was  done 
to  a  lane  we  have  mentioned  before  where  four  companies  were 
placed  in  a  good  position.  Again  under  their  fire  the  colors  of 
the  leading  rebel  column  went  down. 

The  regiment,  however,  was  too  closely  pressed  to  hold  its  posi 
tion,  and  was  ordered  back  to  a  point  on  a  small  creek  five  hundred 
yards  distant,  where  Capts.  Rowen  and  Blake's  companies  were 
placed  under  the  partial  cover  of  a  thicket.  Their  fire  checked  the 
rebel  advance  and  gave  time  for  reorganization.  Following  the 
creek,  the  regiment  crossed  an  open  field  to  a  point  in  the  woods, 


-• 


THE    NINETEENTH    ILLINOIS.  357 

where  its  fire  again  thinned  the  rebel  ranks  and  partially  checked 
the  advancing  column.  Under  orders,  the  regiment  was  retired  in 
line  and  in  good  order,  making  several  stands  in  the  woods,  and  took 
position  in  a  thicket,  but  the  troops  on  the  right  and  left  of  the  line 
having  fallen  back,  and  the  89th  being  exposed  to  a  terrific  artillery 
and  musketry  fire,  retired  by  the  flank  to  the  rear,  after  having 
taken  and  delivered  an  unceasing  fire  for  five  hours.  On  the  night 
of  Friday,  the  2d,  it  held  a  very  responsible  position,  guarding  a 
ford  and  supporting  Capt.  Stoke's  Chicago  Board  of  Trade  Battery, 
while  Negley  made  the  splendid  charge  upon  the  rebel  right.  The 
behavior  of  all  the  officers  through  the  trying  positions  in  which  the 
regiment  was  placed  and  of  the  men  themselves,  received  many 
commendations.  From  morning  until  night,  of  the  first  day's  bat 
tle,  they  bore  the  weight  of  an  overwhelming  rebel  column  and 
were  fighting  in  the  very  face  of  fate  itself.  No  single  regiment 
could  have  withstood  such  a  force,  and  few  regiments  would  have 
made  a  more  determined  opposition  where  success  was  an  impossi 
bility.  The  total  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  was  one 
hundred  and  forty-nine.  Among  the  officers  killed  were  Capt. 
Henry  S.  Willett  and  corporal  Wm.  II.  Litsey,  of  company  H. 

But  no  regiment  in  that  bloody  fight  vindicated  its  manhood  more 
gloriously  than  the  19th  Illinois.  It  had  been  pursued  by  all  the 
hate  and  vindictiveness  of  secession,  and  stigmatized  as  thieves  and 
plunderers  by  partisan  malice  at  home.  It  had  been  put  under  ban, 
broken  up  into  squads  and  officially  disgraced.  It  had  been 
marched  and  counter  marched  many  an  unnecessary  and  weary  mile 
through  swamp  and  forest.  Its  officers  had  been  hooted  at,  and  its 
men  treated  with  every  soldierly  indignity.  But  at  length  the  day 
and  the  hour  came  when  its  patriotism,  its  devotion,  its  bravery  and 
its  discipline  were  to  silence  foes  at  home  and  abroad,  and  to  achieve 
for  it  a  name  which  in  history  shall  illuminate  one  of  the  brightest 
pages  of  Illinois  bravery  as  developed  in  the  present  war. 

On  the  30th  the  regiment  had  but  little  to  do  and  lost  but  nine 
men.  The  next  morning  it  was  up  early  and  in  line  of  battle, 
although  they  had  scarcely  eaten  any  thing  and  slept  upon  the 
ground  without  their  blankets,  which  were  in  the  trains,  miles  to  the 
rear.  Soon,  by  the  sound  of  the  musketry,  it  was  evident  the  rebels 


358  PATRIOTISM  OF    ILLINOIS. 

had  turned  our  right.  Thomas  had  lost  part  of  his  artillery  and  the 
veteran  troops  were  retreating.  Further  back,  towards  the  rear, 
firing  opened.  Then  the  19th  prepared  for  the  fight.  They  changed 
front,  fixed  bayonets,  and  charged,  the  foe  retiring  before  their  ter 
rible  onset.  Heavy  firing  commenced,  and  a  storm  of  bullets  whis 
tled  through  their  ranks.  At  the  first  fire  corporal  Daggy  fell  mor 
tally  wounded.  The  enemy  were  repulsed,  but  the  27th  Illinois 
were  hard  pressed  and  needed  aid.  They  faced  to  the  right,  and  as 
coolly  as  if  on  drill,  marched,  with  the  lamented  Scott  at  their 
head,  through  a  terrific  fire  of  shot  and  shell  and  took  position  by 
the  side  of  the  18th  Ohio.  Edgarton's  battery  had  been  taken  nnd 
was  turned  upon  them,  and  other  batteries  opened  a  fearful  fire. 
"Word  came  that  they  were  surrounded  and  must  cut  their  way  out. 
They  faced  about  again,  fixed  bayonets,  rushed  into  a  cedar  swamp, 
and  forced  their  way  out  and  formed  on  the  left  of  Sheridan. 
moved  to  the  front  and  went  into  action.  They  had  hardly  got  into 
position  before  portions  of  the  division  fell  back  and  the  rebels  ad 
vanced.  General  Negley  ordered  the  19th  to  stand  firm  until  the 
rest  could  form,  and  for  half  an  hour,  with  the  rebels  on  their  front 
and  flanks,  they  held  back  the  advancing  hosts  until  the  18th  Ohio 
and  42d  Illinois  were  formed,  and  then  they  retired  to  the  center  as 
reserves. 

On  Friday,  those  who  knew  the  position  of  VanCleve^s  division, 
felt  certain  that  when  the  assault  did  come  it  would  come  upon  the 
extreme  left.  At  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  fierce  cannonading 
which  had  prevailed  for  some  time  on  the  left  was  accompanied  by 
a  deafening  crash  of  musketry,  and  it  was  evident  the  battle  was 
renewed  in  earnest.  The  enemy  massed  three  of  his  divisions, 
Rain's,  Anderson's  and  Breckinridge's,  the  whole  under  command 
of  the  latter,  and  hurled  them  against  VanCleve.  His  men  bravely 
withstood  the  onset,  but  were  literally  overwhelmed  by  superior 
numbers  and  two  of  the  brigades  were  broken  to  pieces.  The  other 
held  its  ground  manfully,  but  to  save  being  surrounded  had  to  re 
treat,  and  the  whole  were  pushed  back  in  disorder  into  and  across 
the  river.  The  rebels  were  preparing  to  follow  when  Negley  sud 
denly  appeared  in  compact  line  of  battle.  His  practised  eye  at 
once  saw  the  danger  unless  an  almost  superhuman  effort  was  made. 


CHARGE    OF    THE    NINETEENTH    ILLINOIS.  359 

He  rode  rapidly  to  their  front,  and,  in  his  clear  voice,  shouted : 
u  Who  will  save  the  left?"  In  an  instant  came  back  the  reply  from 
the  gallant  Scott:  "  The  19th  Illinois  !"  " The  1 9th  it  is  then  !  By  the 
left  flank,  march,"  was  the  command.  Scott  put  his  cap  on  his  sword 
and  shouted,  "  Forward."  The  men  lay  down  and  fired  one  volley, 
then  rose,  fixed  bayonets,  and  started  upon  that  grand  charge  which 
saved  the  day,  immortal  as  the  charge  of  Balaklava.  Into  the  river 
they  plunged  waist  deep,  although  a  whole  rebel  division  was  dis 
puting  the  passage,  up  the  precipitous  bank,  bristling  with  bayonets, 
baring  their  heads  to  the  leaden  pitiless  rain,  against  bayonet  and 
shot  and  shell,  careless  of  the  storm  that  was  tearing  through  their 
ranks,  unmindful  of  the  brave  fellows  falling  in  the  bloody  track 
they  made,  they  swept  on,  resistless  as  a  Nemesis.  At  the  top  of 
the  hill  the  rebels  try  to  make  a  stand  but  they  are  shivered  like  a 
glass  as  the  19th  strikes  them.  They  hesitate,  they  stand  as  if 
dumb  with  amazement  at  this  terrible  charge  Their  ranks  waver, 
they  break  and  flee,  the  19th,  closely  followed  by  the  llth  Michigan 
and  78th  Pennsylvania,  pouring  destruction  through  their  fugitive 
ranks.  Across  the  open  fields  they  rush  to  the  protection  of  their 
batteries  beyond,  but  the  march  of  the  19th  is  like  the  march  of  fate. 
Regardless  of  the  fact  that  the  field  is  swept  by  the  battery,  they  still 
roll  back  the  rebel  foe,  vainly  trying  to  seize  upon  every  ridge  and 
clump  as  a  means  of  defense.  Over  the  corn-fields,  up  to  the  very 
muzzles  of  the  guns  in  spite  of  their  belching  fury  and  sheeted 
flame,  over  the  parapet,  and  the  battery  belongs  to  the  19th.  The 
left  is  saved.  The  day  is  ours — the  victory  is  won.  Thus  the  19th 
vindicated  its  good  name  and  made  one  of  the  grandest  and  most 
.glorious  charges  of  the  war.  Thus  the  19th  revenged  the  malice 
and  hatred  of  secession  which  had  pursued  them. 

The  regiment  lost  in  killed  and  wounded  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
four  out  of  three  hundred  and  forty  men.  Col.  Scott  was  seriously 
wounded  in  the  passage  of  the  river,  and  died  some  months  after 
from  the  effects  of  the  wound.  Among  the  killed  were  corporal  Ira 
A.  Pease,  corporal  Wm.  Leason,  corporal  W.  Ryerson,  corporal 
Robert  McCracken,  sergeant  James  Goldsmith,  Captain  Knowlton, 
Lieutenant  Wellington  Wood,  and  sergeant  Daniel  Griffin. 

On  Thursday,  the  88th  and  36th  Illinois  regiments  made  a  splendid 


360  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

charge,  most  important  in  its  developments  and  destructive  to  the 
rebels.  They  were  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  behind  a  fence,  and  in 
front,  over  an  open  field,  a  heavy  column  of  rebels,  three  regiments 
deep,  advanced.  The  88th  lay  close  to  the  ground  until  the  enemy 
were  within  forty  yards  of  them,  when  they  rose,  took  deliberate 
aim  and  poured  a  terrible  volley  into  them.  The  rebels  rallied  and 
again  advanced,  but  the  88th  had  quickly  reloaded,  and  as  the  enemy 
came  closely  up,  another  volley  was  fired  into  them,  creating  fearful 
havoc.  A  charge  was  ordered,  bayonets  were  fixed,  and  the  88th 
and  36th,  with  a  shout,  made  a  furious  onset  that  quickly  cleared 
the  field.  Major  Chandler,  of  the  former  regiment,  had  two  horses 
shot  under  him,  and  in  every  stage  of  the  battle  displayed  the 
highest  skill  and  bravery.  Among  the  killed  in  the  88th  were 
Lieut.  Gulick  and  orderly  sergeant  Lyford.  Several  officers  were 
wounded,  among  them  Capt.  Geo.  W.  Smith,  Lieut.  McDonald, 
Lieut.  Chester,  orderly  sergeant  Griffin  and  corporal  Palmer. 

The  35th  Illinois,  Lieut.  Col.  Chandler,  and  25th  Illinois,  Col.  T. 
D.Williams,  commanding,  were  in  the  14th  corps  on  the  right.  On 
the  30th,  two  companies  of  these  regiments  acted  as  skirmishers, 
under  the  command  of  Major  Mcllvain,  of  the  35th,  covering  the 
front  of  General  Woodruff.  They  remained  in  position  until  three 
o'clock  p.  M.,  when  Major  Mcllvain  sent  for  another  company,  and 
commenced  pressing  back  the  enemy's  skirmishers  to  a  belt  of  tim 
ber.  The  rebel  advance,  however,  rapidly  caused  our  skirmishers 
to  fall  back.  Col.  Williams  of  the  25th,  detached  another  company 
from  his  command,  and  it  went  forward,  deploying  as  skirmishers 
while  the  brigade  moved  up  to  their  support.  The  brigade  re 
mained  in  position,  receiving  a  heavy  fire  for  some  time,  when  the 
batteries  came  up  and  did  their  work  so  well  that  the  rebel  batteries 
soon  were  silenced.  In  the  fighting  of  the  succeeding  days  these 
regiments  bore  themselves  with  determined  bravery  and  heroism. 
General  Woodruff,  in  his  report,  says:  "I  desire  to  call  the  atten 
tion  of  the  commanding  officer  to  the  gallant  conduct  of  Lieut.-Col. 
Chandler,  commanding  the  35th  Illinois,  whose  cool,  steady  courage, 
admirable  deportment  and  skillful  management  evinced  the  soldier 
true  and  tried,  and  who  at  all  times  proved  himself  worthy  of  the 
trust  he  holds.  Major  Mcllvain,  of  the  same  regiment,  who  had  the 


DEATH  OF    COL.    T.   D.   WILLIAMS.  361 

supervision  of  skirmishers,  I  cannot  praise  too  much.  His  good 
judgment  and  skillful  handling  elicited  encomiums  of  well  merited 
compliments  at  all  times.  He  was  cool,  determined  and  persever 
ing.  Capt.  W.  Taggert,  who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  25th 
Illinois  regiment,  behaved  as  a  soldier  should  everywhere — efficient 
and  ever  ready  to  execute  orders. 

"  Amid  the  glorious  results  of  a  battle  won,  it  gives  me  pain  to 
record  the  names  of  the  gallant  men  who  offered  up  their  lives  on 
the  altar  of  their  country.  But  we  must  drop  the  tear  of  sorrow 
over  their-resting  places  and  offer  our  heartfelt  sympathies  to  their 
relatives  and  friends,  trusting  that  God  will  care  for  them  and  soothe 
their  afflictions.  And  while  we  remember  the  noble  dead,  let  us 
pay  a  tribute  of  respect  to  the  gallant  Colonel  T.  D.  Williams, 
25th  Illinois  regiment,  who  died  in  the  performance  of  his  duty. 
He  fell  with  his  regimental  colors  in  his  hands,  exclaiming :  c  We 
will  plant  it  here,  boys,  and  rally  the  old  25th  around  it,  and  here 
we  will  die  ?'  Such  conduct  is  above  all  praise  and  words  can  paint 
no  eulogiums  worthy  of  the  subject." 

The  35th  Illinois  lost  two  officers  wounded,  eight  privates  killed, 
forty-nine  wounded  and  thirty-two  missing.  The  25th,  one  officer 
killed  and  three  wounded,  fourteen  privates  killed,  sixty-nine 
wounded  and  thirty-five  missing. 

The  110th  Illinois,  Colonel  Thomas  S.  Casey,  were  under  fire  in 
this  battle  for  the  first  time,  but  behaved  with  the  utmost  gallantry, 
and  in  conjunction  with  the  41st  Ohio,  by  their  unflinching  deter 
mination  and  bravery  foiled  the  efforts  of  an  overwhelming  force  of 
rebels  to  break  the  front  of  General  Hazen.  Subsequently  they 
occupied  the  extreme  left  against  which  a  heavy  attack  was  directed. 
This  position  must  be  held  or  the  left  sacrificed.  The  ammunition 
of  the  110th  was  exhausted,  but  they  clubbed  their  muskets,  and 
coolly  as  old  veterans  fought  like  heroes  and  held  their  line  un 
broken.  Later  in  the  fight  the  100th  Illinois,  under  command  of  the 
gallant  and  lamented  Colonel  Bartleson,  came  up  to  the  support  of 
the  110th  and  fought  side  by  side  with  them  in  generous  rivalry. 

The  74th  Illinois,  Colonel  Marsh  commanding,  left  Nashville  in 
the  advance  on  the  26th,  and  came  up  in  the  afternoon  near  Nolins- 
ville,  meeting  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy.  The  regiment 


362  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

formed  in  line  of  battle  and  advanced,  occupying  an  exposed  posi 
tion.  The  enemy,  however  fell  back,  and  the  regiment  bivouacked 
for  the  night.  The  next  day  being  exceedingly  inclement,  they 
inarched  but  five  miles  and  again  bivouacked.  Resting  in  camp 
over  the  Sabbath,  the  march  was  resumed  Monday  morning,  and  the 
next  morning  the  regiment  were  at  their  arms  at  daylight,  coming  up 
with  the  enemy  about  noon.  A  slight  fire  of  skirmishers  was  kept 
up  during  the  day,  but  at  night  a  heavy  fire  opened  upon  them 
from  a  masked  battery,  making  it  necessary  for  the  line  to  fall  back. 
The  regiment  being  within  direct  and  short  range  of  the  battery, 
several  casualties  occurred.  M.  O.  Felmly  and  Corporal  Cook 
were  killed,  and  I.  B.  Gaspares,  corporal  of  the  same  company, 
was  seriously  wounded.  At  four  o'clock  the  next  morning  the 
regiment  formed  in  line,  and  at  day  light  their  skirmishers  opened 
upon  an  advancing  rebel  force,  emptying  many  saddles.  But  the 
superior  numbers  of  the  rebels  enabled  them  to  flank,  and  the 
regiment  fell  back  in  good  order.  As  the  rebels  came  up,  the 
regiment  reserved  their  fire  until  within  short  range,  when  they 
opened  with  terrible  effect,  holding  them  completely  in  check 
until  they  had  delivered  ten  or  fifteen  rounds.  But  the  odds  were 
too  tremendous,  and  the  regiment  had  to  retreat.  At  a  point 
about  half  a  mile  back  they  made  another  stand,  whore  they  were 
joined  by  three  companies  of  the  regiment  which  had  been  cut 
off  early  in  the  morning.  First  Lieutenant  Lcffingwell  came  up 
with  the  men  and  helped  rally  the  regiment.  After  this  the 
regiment  had  no  further  share  in  the  fighting  of  that  day,  except 
two  companies  sent  out  as  skirmishers  under  command  of  1st  Lieut. 
Blakesley,  who  rendered  important  service  in  a  skirmish  with  the 
rebel  cavalry.  On  Friday  the  regiment  was  put  in  rapid  march 
across  Stone  River  on  the  left,  just  after  the  charge  of  the  19th 
Illinois,  but  the  battle  had  closed  by  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  just 
before  their  arrival.  In  the  official  report  of  Colonel  Marsh,  Capt. 
J.  H.  Douglass,  Major  Dutcher  and  Capt.  Niemanwere  highly  com 
mended,  and  private  Charles  A.  Allen,  of  Company  E,  was  recom 
mended  for  promotion  for  his  fearless  bravery  and  enthusiastic  zeal. 
The  73d  and  44th  Illinois  regiments  in  Lieut.-Col.  Liebold's 
brigade,  also  distinguished  themselves  in  this  battle.  A  portion  of 


THE    FIFTY-FIRST.  363 

the  73d  supported  Hezcock's  battery  in  a  gallant  manner  on  the 
31st,  the  balance  of  the  regiment  being  held  in  reserve.  The  44th 
Illinois  with  the  2d  Missouri,  on  the  same  day  made  a  splendid  ad 
vance  to  their  position,  and,  although  unsupported,  bravely  held  it 
until  they  were  attacked  on  the  front  and  flank  at  once.  The  de 
tached  battalions  of  the  73d  were  attacked  several  times,  but  in 
almost  every  instance  signally  repulsed  them.  Capt.  Alsop,  of  the 
73d,  and  Capt.  Hosmer,  of  the  44th,  fell  fighting  bravely. 

The  51st  Illinois,  Colonel  Bradley,  was  in  the  thickest  of  the 
fight  and  suffered  heavily,  but  was  commended  on  every  hand  for 
its  gallant  bearing  and  heroic  action. 

Although  many  of  the  Illinois  regiments  had  to  bear  the  brunt  of 
overwhelming  attacks  from  superior  numbers,  where  success  was  im 
possible,  there  has  hardly  been  a  battle  in  the  war  where  more  per 
sistence  has  been  displayed  or  more  heroism  evinced.  In  every  part 
of  the  field,  wherever  the  fight  raged  the  most  fiercely,  were  the 
Illinois  regiments,  and  from  the  overpowering  rebel  assaults  of  the 
first  day  to  the  splendid  and  dashing  charge  of  the  19th  Illinois 
and  other  regiments  which  saved  the  left  and  the  day,  there  are  no 
words  to  be  used  but  those  of  commendation. 


CHAPTER    XX. 

COL.  GRIERSON'S  RAID — ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EXPEDITION  AND  ITS  CHARACTER — COL. 
HATCH  LEAVES  THE  FORCE — ILLINOIS  ALONE  IN  THE  FIELD — ON  FOR  BATON  ROUGE — 
DARING  EXPEDITION  OF  CAPT.  FORBES — THREE  THOUSAND  REBELS  SURRENDER  TO 
THIRTY-FIVE  UNION  TROOPERS — THE  CRISIS  AT  PEARL  RIVER  BRIDGE — SAVIXG  THE 
BRIDGE — A  PERILOUS  MOMENT — CAPTURE  OF  HAZLEHURST — How  THEY  CROSSED 
PEARL  RIVER — CAPTURE  OF  BROOKHAVEN — DESTROYING  RAILROADS  AND  TELEGRAPHS — 
IN  THE  SWAMPS  AND  IN  AMBUSH — CAPTURE  OF  STUART'S  CAVALRY — ENTERING  BATON 
ROUGE — REJOICINGS  AND  OVATIONS. 

WE  now  drop  the  campaign  of  General  Rosecrans  for  a  few 
chapters,  and  turn  to  one  of  the  most  thrilling  episodes  of 
the  war — the  raid  of  General  Grierson,  which  was  purely  an  Illinois 
operation,  conceived  and  planned  by  an  Illinois  officer,  and  carried  out 
in  all  its  details  by  Illinois  soldiers.  Probably  no  movement  in  the 
war  so  clearly  and  unmistakably  illustrated  the  dash,  courage,  hardi 
hood  and  power  of  endurance  of  Illinois  soldiers  as  this  raid.  Cer 
tainly  no  operation  has  been  more  completely  carried  out  or  crowned 
with  a  greater  degree  of  success.  The  country  traversed  by  the 
little  force  was  in  many  places  almost  impassable,  owing  to  swamps 
and  bayous,  and  it  swarmed  with  rebel  troops  north,  south,  east  and 
west  of  them.  Not  a  day  passed  that  they  were  not  in  danger  of 
being  cut  off  and  annihilated,  and  oftentimes  their  fate  hung  by  a 
single  thread.  Swinging  loose  from  all  communications,  destroying 
every  thing  behind  them,  so  that  return  was  impossible,  scantily 
provided  with  food,  and  riding  sometimes  fifty  miles  a  day,  crossing 
burning  bridges  and  swollen  streams,  plunging  through  swamps  and 
morasses,  achieving  safety  when  a  minute's  delay  would  have  in 
volved  destruction,  it  seemed  as  if  these  bold  riders  and  their  no 
less  bold  and  skillful  leader  bore  charmed  lives.  Poetry  and  history 


GEIEKSON'S  EAID.  365 

in  time  to  come  will  record  Grierson's  raid  as  one  of  the  most  chiv 
alrous  and  gallant  exploits  of  a  war  marked  by  brave  deeds  from 
its  commencement  to  the  present  time. 

In  order  to  facilitate  General  Grant's  operations  around  Vicks- 
burg,  it  had  been  determined  to  make  a  cavalry  raid  in  the  rear  of 
the  doomed  city  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  enemy's  railroad 
communications  and  preventing  his  reinforcement.  Col.  Benjamin 
H.  Grierson,  of  the  first  cavalry  brigade,  had  proposed  a  raid 
through  Mississippi,  without  meeting  the  approval  of  General  Grant 
until  April  1st,  when  he  was  instructed  to  prepare  for  the  expedi 
tion.  His  force  was  stationed  at  La  Grange,  about  fifty  miles  eaat 
of  Memphis  and  four  miles  west  of  the  junction  of  the  Mississippi 
and  Charleston  Railroad,  and  consisted  of  the  6th  Illinois  cavalry, 
Colonel  Reuben  Loomis ;  7th  Illinois  cavalry,  Col.  Edward  Prince ; 
and  the  2d  Iowa  cavalry,  Colonel  Edward  Hatch.  On  the  17th  of 
April,  feints  having  previously  been  made  from.  La  Grange,  Mem 
phis  and  Corinth,  to  divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  the  real 
objects  of  the  movement,  they  moved  out  on  the  road  towards  Rip- 
ley,  the  6th  Illinois  leading  the  advance,  and  at  night  fall,  after  rid 
ing  thirty  miles,  camped  near  Ripley,  on  a  plantation  owned  by  one 
Dr.  Ellis.  The  6th  having  taken  the  wrong  road  near  La  Grange 
were  thrown  to  the  westward  and  did  not  arrive  until  night.  The 
7th,  as  they  were  going  into  camp,  made  the  first  capture  during  the 
expedition,  in  the  shape  of  three  rebel  prisoners  who  were  surprised 
while  crossing  a  corn-field  near  the  camp. 

On  the  18th  they  broke  camp  at  eight  o'clock,  dividing  their  for 
ces,  the  2d  Iowa  advancing  on  the  left  flank  of  the  column  in  a 
southeasterly  direction,  while  the  remainder  of  the  column  took  the 
direct  road  south  through  Ripley  towards  New  Albany.  As  they 
neared  the  bridge  across  the  Tallahatchie,  a  rebel  force  was  discov 
ered  on  the  opposite  bank  trying  to  destroy  the  bridge.  Shouting 
their  old  battle  cry,  Captain  Thomas's  battalion  dashed  over  the 
bridge  and  into  the  rebel  bridge  burners  with  such  impetuosity  that 
they  fled  like  sheep  without  accomplishing  much  injury  to  the  bridge. 
The  bridge  was  soon  put  in  good  order  and  the  troopers  drove  into 
town,  lighting  their  camp  fires  on  the  plantation  of  a  Mr.  Sloan,  four 
miles  south  of  New  Albany.  Colonel  Hatch's  command  in  the 


366  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

meantime  which  had  been  detached,  crossed  the  Tallahatchie  some- 
five  miles  above  New  Albany,  and  discovered  the  whereabouts  of 
two  small  forces  of  rebels,  and  overtook  the  raiding  party  the  next 
day.  That  morning,  Captain  Trafton  at  the  head  of  two  companies, 
rode  back  to  New  Albany  and  drove  out  a  rebel  force  which  had 
occupied  the  town,  and  got  back  to  camp  before  ten  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon.  Two  more  companies  started  off  into  the  woods  in 
another  direction  and  brought  away  all  the  horses  they  could  lead. 
Two  more  started  off  in  still  another  direction  after  a  rebel  cavalry 
force,  but  the  enemy  had  decamped,  and  our  boys  returned  bringing 
with  them  a  few  prisoners.  All  these  movements  were  made  to 
distract  the  enemy  and  conceal  from  him  the  real  destination  of  the 
expedition.  Before  noon,  the  whole  force  were  on  the  inarch  again 
in  a  southerly  direction,  with  the  2d  Iowa  on  the  left  flank  and  pro 
ceeding  to  Pontotoc,  a  small  rebel  force  was  found  there  and  pursued 
through  the  town  by  the  advance,  and  their  entire  camp  equipage 
and  a  large  quantity  of  salt  captured  which  was  destroyed  before 
night.  They  were  now  sixty  miles  from  their  first  night's  encamp 
ment. 

On  the  next  day,  the  20th,  a  detachment  of  the  least  effective  men 
from  the  regiments,  under  command  of  Major  Love  of  the  2d  Iowa, 
was  sent  back  to  Lagrange  with  one  piece  of  artillery  and  the  pris 
oners.  Colonel  Grierson  in  doing  this,  secured  a  double  object. 
First,  relief  from  all  encumbrances,  and  second,  the  creation  of  an 
impression  among  the  rebels  that  his  expedition  was  retracing  its 
steps.  The  raiders  then  moved  on  and  passing  around  Houston 
camped  that  night  at  Clear  Springs,  having  gone  forty  miles  during 
the  day. 

At  daylight  the  next  morning  they  were  off  again.  Col.  Hatch, 
with  his  brave  command,  the  2d  Iowa,  was  ordered  to  move  his 
regiment  towards  Columbus  and  destroy  as  much  of  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  Railroad  as  possible,  attack  Columbus,  if  the  rebel  force  was 
not  too  strong,  and  march  thence  to  Lagrange.  Near  Okalona,  he 
encountered  a  large  force  and  a  severe  fight  ensued,  in  which  he 
himself  was  wounded  and  his  force  badly  scattered,  but  the  larger 
portion  of  them  reached  Lagrange.  Col.  Hatch's  movement,  al 
though  resulting  disastrously,  had  the  good  efFoct  to  mislead  the 


A   SUCCESSFUL   RUSE.  367 

rebel  General  Chalmers,  who  was  in  pursuit  of  Grierson,  and  give 
the  latter  two  or  three  days'  start. 

Illinois  was  now  in  the  field  alone,  and  although  the  news  of  the 
raid  had  spread  over  Mississippi  like  wild  fire,  and  the  rebel  forces 
were  moving  in  every  direction,  trying  to  intercept  the  little  band, 
there  was  no  thought  of  returning.  They  resolved  to  escape  the  toils 
spread  for  them  on  every  hand  by  making  a  headlong  and  rapid 
dash  right  through  the  heart  of  Mississippi  to  Baton  Rouge  on  the 
Gulf;  and  to  this  end  the  gallant  Colonel  gave  his  clear-headed  skill 
and  sagacity,  and  his  troopers  their  brave  hearts  and  strong  hands. 
To  successfully  compass  this  plan  it  was  necessary  that  the  tele 
graph  wires  running  north  along  the  railroad  from  Macon  should  be 
cut.  Col.  Prince  detailed  company  B,  of  the  7th  Illinois,  under 
Capt.  Forbes,  to  make  the  seemingly  desperate,  if  not  fatal  attempt. 
He  started  out  with  thirty-five  men  to  ride  through  fifty-miles  of  the 
enemy's  country  and  into  the  vicinity  of  Macon,  one  of  the  most 
strongly  fortified  places  in  the  State,  and  probably  occupied  by  a 
powerful  garrison.  Capt.  Forbes  and  his  company  left  the  main 
force,  little  expecting  to  return,  but  good  fortune  waited  upon  him 
at  every  turn.  Macon,  the  first  object  of  their  expedition,  was  too 
strong  for  them  to  take.  Pressing  forward,  in  a  southwesterly  di 
rection,  and  seeking  for  their  regiment,  they  were  misled  by  false 
information  and  rode  to  Enterprise,  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Rail 
road,  where  they  found  three  thousand  rebel  soldiers  just  disem 
barking  from  a  train.  Capt.  Forbes  rescued  himself  from  his  awk 
ward  position  by  the  utmost  coolness  and  presence  of  mind.  Taking 
a  flag  of  truce,  he  rode  boldly  up  alone  to  the  rebel  force  and  de 
manded  their  surrender  to  Col.  Grierson.  The  rebels  supposing 
that  Grierson's  force  was  close  at  hand,  and  believing  the  exagge 
rated  reports  of  its  numerical  strength,  concluded  discretion  was 
the  better  part  of  valor.  The  rebel  commander,  Capt.  Goodwin, 
wanted  an  hour  in  which  to  think  over  the  matter,  to  which  Capt. 
Forbes,  after  some  feigned  reluctance,  assented  and  rode  back  to 
his  handful  of  men.  That  hour  placed  a  long  distance  between  his 
company  and  Enterprise.  It  is  not  known  whether  the  rebel  Colonel 
ever  returned  to  give  a  final  answer  on  the  question  of  surrendering, 
but  it  is  certain  the  little  troop  were  not  there  to  receive  it.  They 


/ 


368  PATEIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 


escaped  successfully  after  accomplishing  their  mission,  and  reported 
to  their  colonel  on  the  banks  of  the  Pearl  River  on  the  27th. 

Before  marching  on  the  22d,  Capt.  Graham,  with  one  battalion, 
was  detailed  to  burn  a  rebel  shoe  manufactory  near  Starkville.  He 
succeeded  in  destroying  several  thousand  pairs  of  boots  and  shoes,  a 
large  number  of  hats  and  a  quantity  of  leather,  besides  capturing  a 
rebel  quartermaster,  who  was  out  foraging  for  his  command  at  Port 
Hudson,  and  then  rejoined  the  main  force.  During  the  day  of  the 
22d,  and  the  following  night,  they  made  one  of  the  most  difficult 
marches  of  the  raid.  At  sundown  they  found  themselves  in  the 
midst  of  the  overflowed  and  treacherous  swamps  of  the  Okanoxubee 
River,  about  seven  miles  south  of  Louisville.  Eight  weary  miles 
they  toiled  through  those  swamps.  Every  stream  and  creek  were 
swollen  by  the  spring  rains,  and  the  swamps  were  deep  lakes  with 
out  an  interval  of  dry  ground.  The  roads  themselves  were  flooded. 
Enormous,  gloomy  trees  hung  with  funeral  mosses  and  parasitic 
pendants,  stood  close  together  three  and  four  feet  deep  in  the  water. 
Every  few  yards  they  got  into  mire  holes,  in  which  horses  would 
disappear.  They  had  already  marched  fifty  miles  that  day  and  men 
and  beasts  alike  were  jaded  and  exhausted,  but  still  with  brave 
hearts  they  pressed  on  in  the  darkness,  through  the  raging  waters, 
trusting  to  Providence  to  guide  and  deliver  them  from  the  thickly 
besetting  dangers.  Not  a  man  was  lost,  but  twenty  of  the  noble 
animals  were  drowned.  The  dismounted  men  removed  their  sad 
dles,  placed  them  on  some  other  led  beasts,  and  pushed  on.  At  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning  they  emerged  and  were  absolutely  compelled 
to  halt  for  a  few  hours  of  rest.  At  seven  o'clock  the  bugle  again 
sounded  the  advance.  The  men  were  instantly  in  their  saddles  and 
were  now  pressing  forward  at  top  speed  for  the  Pearl  River  bridge. 
It  was  the  crisis  of  the  march.  Their  fate  hung  trembling  in  the 
balance. 

The  river  was  too  high  to  be  forded  and  the  bridge  was  the  only 
means  of  crossing.  Rebel  scouts  had  gone  before  them  and  given 
the  warning.  If  they  had  arrived  in  time  to  destroy  the  bridge,  the 
expedition  was  over  and  death  or  capture  was  their  fate,  for  the 
rebel  bands  were  scouring  the  country  in  every  direction,  and  delay 
would  have  been  fatal.  They  put  spurs  to  their  horses  and  flew 


A  FEARFUL    CRISIS.  369 

<ilong  like  the  wind.  Once  on  the  bridge  they  might  achieve  safety. 
On  through  the  swamps  and  the  forests,  on  without  ceasing.  It 
was  a  fearful  race,  but  they  were  bold  riders  and  good  steeds.  The 
old  flag  and  brave-hearted  Grierson,  with  his  kindling  eye  and 
solemn,  thoughtful  face,  were  at  their  head.  They  would  follow 
him  to  death  itself.  During  the  afternoon  they  nearcd  the  stream. 
They  heard  the  raging  of  the  swollen  waters  and  suspicious  sounds 
as  of  men  at  work  upon  the  bridge.  Every  horse  was  put  at  top 
speed.  The  7th  was  in  the  advance  ami  rode  with  all  the  fury  of  a 
charge  into  the  battle-storm.  As  they  got  to  the  bank  they  dis 
covered  a  force  of  rebels  working  with  superhuman  energy,  tearing 
up  the  planks  of  the  bridge  flooring  and  hurling  them  into  the  river. 
Now  for  the  love  of  home  and  country,  brave  hearts  within  and 
God  overhead,  they  make  one  last,  grand  effort.  Rising  in  their 
stirrups,  driving  their  spurs  into  the  excited  horses,  who  seem  to 
know  and  feel  the  danger,  they  dash  down  the  river  bank  like  the 
whirlwind.  Shouting  the  old  Illinois  battle-cry,  they  draw  their 
sabers  and  hurl  themselves  upon  the  wonder-stricken  bridge  de 
stroyers  like  an  avalanche.  Who  can  withstand  their  resistless  fury, 
their  almost  superhuman  ardor  and  fierceness  ? 

The  skirmish  was  brief.  A  few  strokes  of  the  saber  and  the 
rebels  fled,  and  the  gallant  Illinois  men  under  the  guidance  of  that 
Providence  who  had  watched  over  them,  who  was  their  cloud  by 
day  and  pillar  of  fire  by  night,  under  the  indomitable  will  and  never 
doubting  faith  of  their  leader,  and  the  help  of  their  own  strong  arms 
and  good  steeds,  reached  the  other  shore  in  safety.  The  crisis  was 
over,  but  even  now  they  must  not  tarry.  On  again  until  night,  and 
all  through  the  night  and  the  next  day  they  rode.  They  passed 
through  Decatur  at  four  A.-M.  of  the  24th,  and  captured  two  trains 
of  cars  and  two  locomotives  at  Newton  Station  at  eleven.  The 
bridges  and  trestle  work  were  found  burned  for  six  miles  each  side 
of  the  station.  Seventy-five  prisoners  were  captured  and  paroled, 
two  warehouses  full  of  commissary  stores  were  utterly  destroyed 
by  fire  and  four  car  loads  of  ammunition  for  heavy  artillery.  The 
bridges  on  the  east  side  of  the  station  were  destroyed  by  the  2d 
battalion  of  the  6th  Illinois,  Major  M.  H.  Starr.  The  whole  com 
mand  left  Newton  at  eleven  A.  M.  of  the  24th,  and:  marched  through 
24 


370  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Garlandville  to  the  plantation  of  a  Mr.  Bender,  where  they  en 
camped.  They  had  performed  the  almost  incredible  feat  of  march 
ing  eighty  miles  in  two  days,  after  the  exhausting  and  tremendous 
exertions  of  the  passage  through  the  swamps  without  rest  or  halt, 
except  at  the  place  we  have  mentioned,  where  they  only  stayed  long 
enough  to  destroy  such  property  as  would  be  of  benefit  to  the 
rebels. 

The  long  march,  privations,  dangers  and  exposures  began  to  tell 
upon  the  little  band.  On  the  25th,  they  left  camp  at  8  A.  M.,  and 
encamped  for  the  night  on  Dr.  Dore's  plantation,  eight  miles  east  of 
Raleigh.  At  this  place  they  were  obliged  to  leave  three  of  their 
men,  who  were  utterly  exhausted  and  unable  to  travel  further. 
Indeed  all  of  the  command  were  so  jaded  and  wearied  that  they 
marched  but  twenty  miles  that  day.  On  the  26th,  they  left  camp 
at  sunrise,  in  the  midst  of  a  drenching  rain,  crossed  Strong  river, 
near  Westville,  and  took  supper  at  Mrs.  Smith's  plantation  near 
Strong  river  bridge,  having  marched  forty  miles.  On  the  27th,  at 
one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  they  resumed  their  march  in  the  dark 
ness,  and  reached  the  Pearl  River  again,  which  was  now  even  more 
formidable  than  when  they  made  their  narrow  escape  at  the  bridge. 
This  point  on  the  river  was  called  the  Georgetown  ferry.  There  was  no 
bridge  and  the  ferry  boat  was  moored  on  the  other  side.  To  call 
upon  the  ferryman  was  hazardous,  but  delays  were  dangerous. 
Some  of  the  troopers  tried  to  swim  over  to  the  boat,  but  the  current 
of  the  river  was  too  powerful.  At  this  juncture,  the  ferryman  came 
along  and  in  the  genuine  Southern  twang,  supposing  he  was  address 
ing  the  1st  regiment  of  Alabama  cavalry,  who  were  expected  in  that 
vicinity  about  that  time,  asked  them  in  a  careless  way  if  they  wanted 
to  cross,  to  which  he  got  a  reply  in  the  same  style  of  twang,  that  a 
few  of  them  did  want  to  cross  but  that  it  was  harder  to  wake  up  his 
negro  ferryman  than  it  was  to  catch  conscripts.  The  ferryman  was 
entirely  deceived,  woke  up  his  negro,  and  the  whole  command  were 
safely  ferried  over,  and  did  themselves  the  pleasure  of  breakfasting 
at  the  ferryman's  house,  the  proprietor  doing  his  utmost  in  lavishing 
attention  upon  them,  supposing  them  to  be  the  Alabamians.  Not 
much  time  was  spent  over  the  breakfast,  however,  and  the  import 
ance  of  speed  was  proven  half  an  hour  afterward,  when  a  courier 


t)N   THE    WAR-PATH.  371 

wa'S  caitght  flying  to  the  ferry  with  dispatches  that  the  Yankees 
were  coming,  and  with  instructions  to  destroy  all  the  ferries.  At 
Hazelhurst,  Colonel  Prince  of  the  7th  captured  a  train  of  about 
forty  cars,  several  of  which  were  loaded  with  shells  and  ammunition. 
Another  train  which  had  just  arrived  escaped  by  backing  out  before 
it  could  be  captured.  At  this  point,  Captain  Forbes,  who,  it  will 
be  remembered,  was  the  hero  of  the  episode  at  Enterprise,  joined 
the  main  force. 

The  command  left  Hazelhurst  at  seven  p.  M.,  and  on  the  night  of 
the  27th  encamped  at  Gallatin,  where  they  captured  fourteen  hun 
dred  pounds  of  powder,  two  wagons,  twenty-six  yoke  of  oxen  and 
a  32-poundcr  Parrott  gun,  en  route  for  Grand  Gulf.  The  gun  was 
spiked  and  powder  destroyed.  They  had  traveled  this  day  thirty- 
seven  miles.  On  the  28th  they  left  camp  at  seven  o'clock.  Four 
miles  east  of  Gallatin,  at  Hardgrove's,  companies  A,  H,  F  and  M, 
were  detailed  under  command  of  Captain  Grafton,  to  strike  the 
New  Orleans  and  Jackson  station,  at  Bahala,  and  destroy  the  rail 
road  and  transportation.  This  was  successfully  accomplished  and 
the  little  force  joined  the  others  at  sunset,  having  performed  during 
the  day  a  journey  of  thirty  miles  more  than  the  rest.  The  main 
force  on  their  march  had  a  skirmish  near  Union  Church,  in  which 
two  of  the  enemy  were  wounded  and  some  prisoners  taken.  On 
the  29th,  they  proceeded  towards  Brookhaveri,  on  the  New 
Orleans  and  Jackson  road,  the  7th  in  advance.  They  charged  into 
the  place  and  burned  the  depot,  cars  and  bridges.  Four  companies 
Tinder  command  of  Major  Starr  took  two  captains,  one  lieutenant, 
one  surgeon  and  nineteen  privates  prisoners.  Two  hundred  prison 
ers  in  all  were  paroled.  They  also  captured  a  lot  of  Mississippi 
rifles,  mules  and  ox-teams,  $5,000  worth  of  commissary  stores  and 
$25,000  worth  of  army  clothing.  The  people  of  Brookhaven  were 
wild  with  terror,  supposing  that  ail  their  property  would  be  consigned 
to  the  flames,  and  their  city  subjected  to  murder  and  rapine.  But  as 
soon  as  they  found  that  the  rights  of  private  property  were  regarded, 
the  delusion  created  in  their  minds  by  their  leaders  was  removed 
and  they  crowded  around  our  troops,  begging  and  imploring  to  be 
paroled.  They  were  unstinted  in  their  hospitality  and  often  made 
-declarations  of  their  faith  in  the  Union,  and  their  hopes  that  its  in- 


372  £ ATiKIOTISM   Off  ILLINOIS'. 

tegrity  would  be  preserved.  On  this  point  Colonel  Grierson  wrote ; 
"  The  strength  of  the  rebels  has  been  overestimated.  They  have 
neither  the  armies  nor  the  resources  we  have  given  them  credit  for. 
Passing  through  their  country,  I  found  thousands  of  good  Union 
men,  who  were  ready  and  anxious  to  return  to  their  allegiance  the 
moment  they  could  do  so  with  safety  to  themselves  and  their  fami 
lies.  They  will  rally  around  the  old  flag  by  scores  whenever  our 
army  advances.  I  could  have  brought  away  a  thousand  with  me, 
who  were  anxious  to  come — men  whom  I  found  fugitives  from  their 
homes,  hidden  in  the  swamps  and  forests  where  they  were  hunted 
like  wild  beasts  by  conscriptive  officers  with  blood-hounds." 

On  the  30th,  at  sunrise,  the  command  left  camp,  the  6th  Illinois  in 
the  advance.  They  burned  the  depot,  bridges  and  cars  at  Bouge 
Chito,  and  following  on,  burned  all  the  trestle  work  between  that 
place  and  Summit,  where  they  arrived  at  five  P.  M.  At  Summit  they 
destroyed  a  large  amount  of  government  sugar  and  wood,  cars  and 
locomotives.  The  camp  of  Hughes  and  Milburn's  Partisan  Ran 
gers,  on  Big  Sandy  Creek,  was  also  destroyed,  after  which  they  en 
camped  a  short  distance  southwest  of  the  place,  having  marched 
that  day  twenty-eight  miles.  On  the  18th  of  May  they  left  camp 
at  daylight,  and  striking  into  the  woods,  moved  in  a  southwesterly 
direction  without  regard  to  roads,  until  they  came  to  the  Clinton 
and  Osyka  road,  near  a  bridge  four  miles  northeast  of  Wall's  Post- 
Omce.  Here  they  fell  into  an  ambush.  About  eighty  of  the  enemy 
were  hidden  in  a  thicket  near  the  bridge.  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Blackburn  at  the  head  of  his  scouts,  not  dreaming  of  danger,  and 
with  more  bravery  than  caution,  rode  on  to  the  bridge  and  was  im 
mediately  struck  down  by  a  volley  which  wounded  him  severely  in 
the  thigh  and  slightly  on  the  head.  Colonel  Prince  dismounted  his 
men,  who  charged  into  the  thicket,  and  after  a  short  fight  put  the 
enemy  to  flight,  and  the  column  passed  on,  reaching  the  Amite  river 
at  ten  o'clock  at  night.  Rebel  pickets  were  posted  along  the  bank, 
but  the  same  watchful  Providence  that  had  led  them  through  their 
thickly  besetting  dangers,  was  again  present  to  defend  and  guard 
them.  The  pickets  were  asleep  and  the  command  crossed  the  river 
undisturbed  within  gunshot  of  the  picket  lines  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  2d  of  May,  they  were  again  on  the  move  at  sunrise  and 


INTO   BATON   KOUGE.  373 

'had  marched  but  a  few  miles  when  the  7th  Illinois  attacked  and  cap 
tured,  within  a  few  miles  of  Baton  Rouge,  forty-two  of  Stuart's 
Mississippi  cavalry  with  their  Colonel  at  their  head.  At  midday  of 
Saturday,  May  2d,  the  toil-worn,  jaded,  brave-hearted  fellows  rode 
into  the  streets  of  Baton  Rouge,  safe  at  last,  and  once  more  under 
the  Stars  and  Stripes.  During  the  last  thirty  hours  they  rode  eighty 
miles,  had  three  skirmishes,  destroyed  large  quantities  of  camp 
equipage  and  military  stores,  burned  bridges,  swam  one  river,  took 
forty-two  prisoners  and  a  number  of  horses,  and  all  this  without 
halting  or  eating.  So  exhausted  were  many  of  them,  that  they 
slept  upon  their  horses  as  they  marched,  only  to  be  roused  by  some 
pressing  danger.  The  danger  over,  they  slept  again  and  rode  for 
ward  unconsciously  until  they  met  the  next  shock. 

The  entrance  of  the  command  into  Baton  Rouge  was  like  the  re 
turn  of  an  old  Roman  conqueror.  The  story  of  their  march  and 
their  incredible  adventures  had  preceded  them  and  created  a  furore 
of  the  wildest  description.  Their  story  seemed  almost  improbable, 
and  many  would  not  believe  it  until  they  had  seen  the  men  and 
talked  with  them.  On  the  next  day  Colonel  Grierson,  Col.  Prince, 
Major  Starr,  Adjutant  Woodward  and  one  or  two  privates  went  to 
'New  Orleans,  and  that  evening  w-ere  serenaded  by  the  band  of  the 
47th  Massachusetts  regiment.  Although  no  preliminary  arrange 
ments  had  been  made,  yet  at  an  early  hour  the  hotel  and  the  street 
were  thronged  with  a  rejoicing  crowd.  The  band  played  on  the 
balcony  and  in  the  rotunda.  Fireworks  were  discharged  and  the 
cheering  was  deafening  as  Colonel  Grierson  made  his  appearance 
on  the  balcony,  introduced  to  the  multitude  by  Surgeon  Smith.  Th'e 
Colonel  made  a  few  remarks  paying  a  handsome  tribute  to  the 
bravery  and  endurance  of  his  officers  and  men.  Lieut.  Woodward, 
Major  Starr  and  a  private  of  the  7th  Illinois  made  short  speeches 
and  were  followed  by  Colonel  Prince,  of  the  6th  Illinois,  who  gave 
a  brief  sketch  of  the  expedition  and  particularly  of  the  ruses  by 
which  they  deceived  the  enemy,  such  as  sending  out  scouts  in  but 
ternut  uniforms,  and  sending  false  messages  by  the  telegraph  to  va 
rious  places  in  their  vicinity,  for  the  purpose  of  putting  them  on  a 
false  track.  Several  short  speeches  from  citizens  of  New  Orleans 
followed,  and  the  Union  flag  was  unfurled  for  the  first  time  in  the 


374  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

hall  of  the  St.  Charles  since  the  capture  of  the  city.  The  bane! 
played  all  the  national  airs  during  the  evening,  and  at  the  close  the 
officers  and  leading  citizens  sat  down  to  a  handsome  repast.  Still 
later  in  the  evening,  a  select  few  adjourned  to  the  parlor,  where  the 
gallant  Colonel  entertained  his  audience  by  playing  upon  the  piano 
and  singing,  for  the  Colonel  not  only  can  fight  but,  to  use  his  own 
words,  "  can  play  any  instrument  from  a  Jew's-harp  to  an  organ.' 
The  next  night  he  was  presented  with  a  magnificent  horse  and. 
equipments,,  and-  a  fine  set  of  equipments  was  also  given  to  Colonc] 
Prince. 

The  narrative  of  this  great  raid  would  not  be  complete  without 
detailing  the  adventures  of  Colonel  Hatch's  command,  the  2d  Iowa, 
which  originally  formed  a  part  of  the  expedition,  and  left  it  near 
Houston.  About  twenty-five  miles  southeast  of  Houston,  they  were 
attacked  by  eight  hundred  shot-gun  cavalry,  whom  they  easily  re 
pulsed.  They  then  turned  directly  north,  crossed  a  most  dismal 
swamp  and  swam  a  deep  creek  to  avoid  a  battery  which  was  in 
waiting  for  them.  A.t  sunset  of  the  22d  they  went  into  Okalona 
and  burned  the  depot,  barracks,  and  hospital  buildings.  The  inhab 
itants  were  thoroughly  panic  stricken  and  fled  in  every  direction, 
On  the  25th,  Colonel  Bartow's  rebel  regiment  of  cavalry  made  a 
dash  upon  their  rear,  but  was  quickly  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  twenty- 
five  men,  not  one  of  the  2d  Iowa  having  been  injured.  On  the 
26th  a  most  dastardly  deed  was  committed  by  the  guerrillas.  While 
one  of  Colonel  Hatch's  orderlies  was  passing  alone  from  the  column 
to  the  advance  guard  with  an  order,  the  assassins  raised  from  their 
hiding  place  and,  without  speaking  to  the  orderly,  shot  him.  The 
rest  of  the  journey  was  marked  with  little  of  incident  and  the  com 
mand  arrived  at  their  camp  in  La  Grange  with  a  loss  of  only  seven 
men.  They  brought  in  over  twenty  prisoners,  fifty  negroes  and  five 
hundred  head  of  horses  and  mules. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  give  a  perfect  sketch  of  the  sixteen 
days'  march  of  Grierson's  heroes.  In  all  the  records  of  warfare  we 
can  scarcely  find  its  parallel.  Their  endurance  under  so  fatiguing 
and  perilous  a  march  is  almost  incredible.  A  large  part  of  the  time 
they  were  without  food  and  rarely  slept  more  than  an  hour  or  two 
at  a  time.  They  were  almost  constantly  in  the  saddle..  Where  the 


AMONG   THE   KAILKOADS.  375 

roads  were  good  they  drove  fast  and  hard  to  elude  the  rebels  all 
around  them,  but  more  often  they  were  fording  or  swimming  rivers 
and  creeks,  dragging  their  way  through  almost  impassable  swamps 
and  plunging  into  thick,  gloomy,  roadless  forests,  trusting  only  to  rude 
country  maps  and  a  little  pocket  compass  to  reach  their  destination. 
During  all  these  weary  eight  hundred  miles,  they  lived  upon  the 
country  both  for  forage  and  provisions,  and  then,  although  they 
came  into  Baton  Rouge  haggard,  hungry,  worn  out  and  almost  com 
pletely  exhausted,  with  only  one  whole  night's  rest  in  the  entire 
ride,  they  turned  over  but  twelve  men  to  the  surgeon.  Many  of  the 
men  suffered  from  swelling  of  the  legs  and  erysipelas,  from  sitting 
so  long  in  the  saddle,  but  it  was  only  a  temporary  trouble. 

They  rode  through  the  entire  state  of  Mississippi  from  the  north 
east  to  the  southwest  corner.  Starting  from  Lagrange,  they  first 
struck  Marshall  county  and  then  passed  through  the  following 
counties  in  succession :  Tippah,  Pontotoc,  Chickasaw,  Octebbeha, 
Winston,  Noxubee,  Neshoba,  Jasper,  Smith,  Simpson,  Copiah,  Law 
rence,  Pike  and  Amite,  and  Helena  and  East  Baton  Rouge  in  Louisi 
ana.  During  this  ride  they  cut  three  railroads,  burned  nine  bridges, 
destroyed  two  locomotives  and  nearly  two  hundred  cars;  broke  up 
three  rebel  camps,  destroyed  more  than  four  million  dollars  worth 
of  rebel  governmental  property,  and  brought  in  with  them  twelve 
hundred  captured  horses  and  five  hundred  negroes.  Every  where 
the  negroes  welcomed  the  adventurers  and  extended  to  them  the 
helping  hand,  and  it  was  only  because  their  presence  would  have 
endangered  the  command  by  hindering  the  march  that  more  were 
not  brought  in.  At  several  points  the  enemy  tried  to  catch  or  sur 
round  them  but  in  vain.  Thirteen  hundred  cavalry  were  sent  after 
them  from  Mobile,  a  thousand  came  south  of  Port  Hudson,  some  to 
Pearl  River,  and  two  thousand  came  from  the  vicinity  of  Columbia 
and  Grenada,  to  cut  them  off,  besides  the  infantry  forces  of  Chalmers 
and  others  that  were  marching  and  counter  marching  in  every  direc 
tion.  Nearly  all  of  the  cavalry  forces,  after  vainly  trying  to  over 
take  or  intercept  Grierson,  fell  back  to  his  rear,  expecting  to  cut 
him  off  when  he  returned.  They  little  dreamed  of  the  Illinois  en 
durance  and  courage  that  could  hew  its  way  to  the  Gulf. 

The  success  of  this  raid  was  not  less  important  in  its  physical 


376  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

than  in  its  moral  results.  It  taught  the  rebels  that  in  spite  of  the 
name  and  fame  of  their  cavalrymen — Stuart,  Jackson,  Hampton  and 
Forrest — there  were  Northern  troopers  who  could  outride,  outfight 
and  outwit  them.  It  disclosed  the  falseness  of  their  vaunted 
strength,  when  seventeen  hundred  men,  without  food  or  rest,  could 
ride  from  the  Union  lines  in  Tennessee  to  the  Gulf,  entirely  through 
a  State  full  of  rebel  forces,  and  ride  through,  comparatively  un 
harmed,  destroying  as  they  went.  It  taught  the  rebels  a  wholesome 
respect  for  the  cavalry  arm  of  our  service,  and  an  equal  respect  for 
the  strength  of  that  government  of  which  these  men  were  but  a 
small  fragment.  The  hollowness  of  the  boast  that  one  of  the 
chivalry  was  the  equivalent  of  five  Yankees,  was  brought  home  to 
them  by  sad  experience,  and  the  hollowness  of  the  shell  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy  wTas  none  the  less  apparent  to  the  Southern 
people  who  had  been  so  woefully  deluded  by  their  military  and  poli 
tical  leaders. 

In  history  this  raid  will  be  one  of  the  most  shining  spots  in  the  war, 
whatever  event  may  occur  in  the  future,  and  one  of  the  proudest 
boasts  in  the  record  of  Illinois  patriotism,  endurance  and  gallantry. 
Poetry  and  history  will  claim  it  as  their  own,  and  immortalize  it  as 
they  have  the  brave  deed  of  Lartius,  Herminius  and  Horatius,  who 
so  valiantly  kept  the  bridge  "in  the  brave  days  of  old." 


OHAPTEE    XXI. 

LIFE  AND  CHARACTER  OF  GEN.  KIRK — His  LAW  STUDIES — ENTRANCE  UPON  THE  MILI 
TARY  STAGE — ON  THE  MILITARY  BOARD  OF  EXAMINERS — WOUNDED  AT  SHILOH — 
TRIBUTES  OF  GEN.  McCooK  AND  BUELL — IN  COMMAND  AT  LOUISVILLE — WOUNDED  AT 
STONE  RIVER — His  DEATH — CHARACTER  OF  GEN.  KIRK — COL.  VON  TREBRA — SKETCH 
OF  His  LIFE — COL.  SHERIDAN  P.  READ — KILLED  AT  STONE  RIVEK — COL.  GEO.  W. 
ROBERTS — His  IMPORTANT  SERVICES— FELL  WITH  His  FACE  TO  THE  FOE — COL. 
JOSEPH  R.  SCOTT — THE  NATIONAL  CADETS — His  MILITARY  KNOWLEDGE — ORGANIZA 
TION  OF  THE  19rni — THE  LEFT  WAS  SAVED,  BUT  SCOTT  WAS  LOST. 

EDWARD  N.  KIRK  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  on 
the  29th  of  February,  1828.  His  parents  were  Quakers,  and 
in  early  life  he  became  imbued  with  the  serenity  of  disposition  and 
steadiness  of  habit  characterizing  that  sect.  He  graduated  with 
honor  at  the  Friends'  Academy  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Ohio,  and  then 
taught  school  at  Cadiz;  but  he  had  laid  out  his  life-plan  deeply  and 
broadly,  and  urged  on  by  a  noble  ambition  which  had  for  its  source 
a  harmoniously  formed  character,  and  for  its  design  the  most  excel 
lent  ultimate,  the  confines  of  the  school  room  became  too  narrow  for 
him.  He  longed  to  step  out  into  the  world  among  active  men  and 
win  his  place.  He  gave  up  the  school,  chose  the  profession  of  the 
law  and  entered  the  office  of  Gen.  Bostwick,  a  prominent  lawyer  of 
Cadiz  ;  continued  with  him  a  short  time,  and  completed  his  studies 
with  Judge  Bartol  of  Baltimore,  in  which  city  he  was  admitted  to 
•the  bar  in  1853.  He  practiced  law  in  Baltimore  for  one  year,  and 
then  removed  to  and  permanently  settled  in  Sterling,  Illinois.  On 
the  15th  of  October,  1858,  he  married  Miss  E.  M.  Cameron,  of  Phil- 
adelphia,  an  accomplished  lady,  who  sympathized  with  his  aspira 
tions  and  aided  in  their  accomplishment. 

Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Bull  Run,  when  the  demand  for 


378  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

men  was  pressing,  he  set  about  raising  and  organizing  a  regiment 
which  he  tendered  to  Governor  Yates,  but  at  the  date  of  its  organi 
zation  more  regiments  had  been  tendered  to  the  Governor  than  he 
was  authorized  to  accept.  Determined  that  his  regiment  should  go 
to  the  field,  he  telegraphed  to  the  War  Department,  and  through 
the  influence  of  friends  it  was  accepted,  his  commission  as  Colonel 
dating  from  the  15th  of  August,  1861.  Almost  instantly  he  became 
celebrated  not  alone  for  the  superiority  in  drill  and  bearing  which 
he  gave  to  his  regiment,  but  for  his  remarkable  comprehension  of 
military  science,  which  gained.for  him  a  position  upon  the  Military 
Board  of  Examiners  at  Munfordsville,  Ky.,  to  pass  upon  the  quali 
fications  of  officers.  At  the  battle  of  Shiloh  he  was  a  second 
Murat.  Cool  and  self-possessed,  he  led  his  fine  regiment  into  the 
very  thickest  of  the  fight.  Although  wounded  by  a  ball  which 
struck  him  in  the  right  shoulder,  partially  fracturing  the  joint,  pass 
ing  below  the  collar  bone  and  lodging  against  the  breast  bone,  in 
flicting  a  dangerous  and  painful  wound,  he  refused  to  leave  the  field 
until  the  issue  of  the  battle  was  decided.  General  Me  Cook  said  of 
him:  "He  coolly  and  judiciously  led  his  men 'under  fire.  Ho  lias 
been  in  command  of  the  fifth  brigade  for  some  months,  and  much  of 
its  efficiency  is  due  to  the  care  and  labor  he  bestowed  upon  it.  I 
respectfully  call  your  attention  to  his  meritorious  services  upon  this 
day."  General  Buell  in  his  report  commended  him  "  to  the  favor 
of  the  government  for  his  distinguished  gallantry  and  good  con 
duct."  In  spite  of  the  protestations  of  the  physicians,  who  knew 
the  character  of  the  wound,  he  remained  at  Shiloh  for  several  days, 
determined  to  lead  his  brigade  in  person  in  the  campaign  against 
Corinth.  The  result  was  an  inflammatory  fever  which  necessitated 
his  removal  to  Louisville,  where  for  a  long  time  he  hung  between 
life  and  death. 

On  the  24th  of  August,  though  still  suffering  from  the  effects  of 
his  wound  and  from  general  debility,  he  started  to  rejoin  his  old 
command  but  was  stopped  by  an  order  from  General  Boyle  com 
manding  the  army  of  Kentucky,  to  take  charge  of  an  expedition  in 
defence  of  Lebanon,  Ky.,  then  seriously  threatened  by  Kirby 
Smith's  forces.  During  the  day,  however,  word  came  that  Lebanon 
was  safe  and  the  expedition  was  relinquished.  He  once  more  de- 


THE   FATAL    WOUND. 

termincd  to  rejoin  his  gallant  brigade,  but  was  again  impeded  by 
an  order  from  General  Boyle,  to  assume  command  of  all  the  forces 
at  Louisville,  including  the  new  regiments  which  were  rapidly 
arriving  to  repel  Bragg's  invasion.  He  retained  command  of  these 
troops  until  relieved  by  General  Gilbert,  when  he  was  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  first  brigade,  second  division,  "  army  of  Ken- 
lucky,"  under  Major-General  Nelson.  About  this  time  occurred 
the  defeat  of  our  forces  at  Richmond,  and  he  was  ordered  with  his 
brigade  and  a  small  cavalry  force  to  cover  the  retreat  of  our  troops, 
an  operation  which  he  performed  with  great  credit  and  military 
success.  On  the  28th  of  September,  he  was  ordered  to  the  com 
mand  of  his  old  brigade  and  was  welcomed  with  the  warmest  de 
light  both  by  officers  and  men. 

On  the  29th  of  November,  the  government  commissioned  him  a 
Brigadier-General  for  his  "  heroic  action,  gallantry  and  ability,"  and 
certainly  no  officer  of  the  State  of  Illinois  ever  wore  the  single  star 
with  more  credit.  He  conferred  honor  upon  the  star,  rather  than  the 
star,  honor  upon  him.  His  splendid  conduct  upon  the  field  of  Stone 
River,  we  have  already  chronicled — how  he  strove  to  hold  back  the 
overwhelming  rebel  hordes  ;  how  he  accomplished,  but  in  vain,  all 
that  man  could  accomplish  to  save  his  brigade,  and  how  he  was 
wrounded.  His  wound  was  a  severe  one,  the  ball  lodged  near  the 
spine,  and  compelled  him  to  withdraw  from  the  field.  He  went  to 
Louisville,  where  he  consulted  eminent  surgical  talent,  but  it  was 
decided  not  to  extract  the  ball,  on  the  ground  that  his  physical 
strength  would  not  allow  of  the  operation.  He  thence  went  to  his 
home  in  Sterling  where  lie  gained  in  health  and  strength,  and  de 
termined  to  have  the  ball  extracted  that  he  once  more  might  go  to 
the  field.  To  this  end  he  went  to  Chicago  to  undergo  an  operation 
at  the  hands  of  Dr.  Brainard.  The  ball  was  successfully  taken  out 
and  for  a  short  time  it  seemed  as  if  he  were  about  to  entirely  re 
cover,  but  symptoms  of  an  alarming  nature  set  in,  and  although 
every  attention  was  bestowed  upon  him  by  his  devoted  wife,  his 
friends  and  physicians,  he  died  in  the  most  excruciating  pain  on  the 
21st  of  July,  1863. 

General  Kirk  was  tall  in  stature  and  dignified  in  bearing,  a  man 
born  to  rule,  and  while  he  commanded  obedience,  none  the  less  to 


380  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

command  not  only  respect  but  love.  He  had  a  broad,  intellectual 
forehead,  dark  eyes  and  hair,  and  a  scholarly,  genial,  thoughtful 
face.  He  was  mild  in  his  disposition,  talented  in  his  conversation, 
friendly  in  his  intercourse,  and  unostentatious  in  his  dress.  In  his 
presence  you  knew  you  were  in  the  presence  of  a  superior  man,  but 
at  the  same  time  you  longed  to  be  familiar  with  him.  As  a  citizen, 
he  strictly  and  conscientiously  performed  ail  the  duties  of  life ;  as  a 
lawyer,  his  place  was  among  the  foremost;  as  a  speaker,  his  power 
lay  in  the  sincerity  and  honesty  of  his  character  rather  than  in  elo 
quence  ;  as  a  politician,  he  was  conservative  until  treason  reared  its 
snaky  crest — then  he  merged  the  politician  in  the  patriot ;  as  a  sol 
dier,  he  was  brave,  fearless,  chivalrous,  skillful  and  God-fearing, 
combining  the  qualities  of  Murat  with  the  devotion  of  Havelock, 
sans  peur  et  sans  reproche.  The  officers  and  men  of  his  old  regi 
ment,  the  34th  Illinois,  who  loved  him  almost  as  a  father,  have 
erected  a  monument  to  his  memory,  one  side  of  which  bears  the 
following  inscription — an  extract  of  one  of  his  letters,  written  to  his 
uncle,  Prof.  1ST.  C.  Brooks,  LL.D.,  President  of  the  Baltimore 
Female  College,  and  dated  the  7th  of  April,  1863 — "  For  me,  I  only 
hope  to  have  it  said,  and  I  ask  nothing  prouder,  ( In  the  time  of  peril 
and  darkness  he  helped  to  save  the  commonwealth.'  '' 

We  deem  this  chapter  a  fitting  place  to  commemorate  the  life  and 
services  of  Colonel  Von  Trebra,  an  adopted  son  of  Illinois,  whose 
name  has  not  figured  in  our  narrative,  as  he  commanded  an  Indiana 
regiment.  He  was  born  in  Niedor  Gorge,  near  Siejan  in  Prussia, 
on  the  28th  of  September,  1830.  He  attended  the  gymnasium  in 
Lubin  until  1841.  From  there  he  went  to  the  military  school  at 
Potsdam,  where  he  remained  until  1845,  when  he  went  to  the  mili 
tary  academy  at  Berlin.  In  1847,  he  was  promoted  to  a  1st  lieu 
tenancy  and  joined  the  12th  infantry.  He  served  with  this  regiment 
through  the  Polish  campaign  and  remained  in  the  Prussian  service 
until  1854,  when  he  came  to  the  United  States.  When  the  war 
broke  out,  like  many  others  who  had  come  to  this  country  for  the 
sake  of  its  freedom,  he  took  up  arms  in  its  defence,  and  on  the  17th 
of  December  1861,  fought  in  the  battle  of  Munfordsville.  He  served 
in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  the  Alabama  and 
Kentucky  campaigns.  On  the  18th  of  July,  he  was  commissioned 


COLONEL   &EAE.  881 

Colonel  of  the  regiment,  Colonel  Willich,  its  former  commander, 
having  been  promoted  to  a  brigadier-generalship.  After  the  de 
parture  of  the  army  from  Louisville  to  check  the  movement  of  Bragg, 
serious  illness  compelled  him  to  ask  for  a  leave  of  absence,  which 
was  granted.  He  repaired  to  his  farm  at  Arcola,  Illinois,  but  never 
returned  to  the  field.  After  a  long  and  painful  illness,  the  patriot 
farmer  died  on  the  6th  of  August,  1863,  and  was  buried  near  his 
home.  Death  summoned  him  when  his  sword  was  sheathed,  but 
that  sword  had  done  good  work,  and  there  was  110  stain  of  dis 
honor  upon  its  blade.  He  died  a  hero  in  the  service  of  his  country 
though  not  upon  the  bloody  field.  None  the  less  his  memory  claims 
the  love  and  gratitude  of  those  for  whom  he  fought. 

Colonel  Sheridan  P.  Read  was  born  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio, 
in  1829.  He  was  educated  at  the  Ohio  University  at  Athens,  Ohio^ 
and  graduated  at  the  law  school  of  the  Indiana  University,  at 
Bloomington,  under  the  instruction  of  Judges  McDonald  and  Otto. 
He  first  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana* 
but  in  1853,  he  removed  to  Paris,  Illinois.  When  the  call  was  made 
for  troops  in  1862,  he  volunteered  as  a  private  soldier,  and  was  ap 
pointed  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  79th  Illinois,  and  on  the  18th  of 
October  following  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  regiment.  He 
was  a  skillful  and  gallant  officer  and  brought  his  regiment  to  a  high 
degree  of  soldierly  bearing  and  skill.  He  fell  at  Stone  River,  as 
we  have  before  stated,  his  head  pierced  by  a  musket  ball  while 
bravely  leading  Ms  men,  and  died  instantly.  His  remains  were 
brought  to  Paris,  and  interred  near  his  home.  Colonel  Read  was  a 
lawyer  from  an  ardent  attachment  to  the  profession  in  which  he 
held  a  high  rank.  He  was  always  active  in  everything  which  per 
tained  to  the  good  of  his  own  community.  He  was  zealous  in  the 
cause  of  education,  and  for  several  years  the  school  commissioner  of 
Edgar  county.  In  the  mechanical  and  agricultural  interests  of  his 
county  and  the  State  at  large,  he  took  a  deep  and  abiding  interest, 
In  politics,  he  was  a  Democrat,  and  was  for  some  time  editor  of  a 
Democratic  paper  in  Paris.  When  the  war  broke  out,  however,  he 
dropped  the  pen,  took  up  the  sword  for  his  country  and  died  in  its 
defence. 

Col.  Geo.  W.  Roberts  was  born  at  Chester,  Westchester  county, 


382  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  October  2,  1833.  He  completed  his 
school  studies  at  Poughkeepsie,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  en 
tered  the  sophomore  class,  of  Yale  College,  oraduatinef  with  hk>*h 

L  J  O      5     O  O  O 

honors  in  1857.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  his  pro 
fession  in  his  native  county  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Chicago 
and  at  once  entered  the  office  of  E.  S.  Smith,  Esq.,  where  he  con 
tinued  until  June,  1861,  when,  in  company  with  Col.  David  Stuart, 
he  helped  to  organize  the  42d  Illinois  regiment.  On  the  22d  of 
July,  he  received  his  commission  as  Major,  on  the  17th  of  September 
was  elected  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and,  upon  the  death  of  Coi.  Webb) 
in  December,  1861,  who  had  succeeded  Col.  Stuart,  he  was  ap 
pointed  Colonel.  He  took  part  with  his  regiment  in  Fremont's 
march  to  Springfield,  Mo.;  afterwards  commanded  Fort  Holt,  at 
Cairo;  thence  was  ordered  to  Columbus,  Ky.,  after  its  evacuation 
by  the  rebels;  thence  proceeded  to  Island  No.  10,  where  ho  per 
formed  one  of  the  most  gallant  feats  of  the  war  by  spiking  the  up 
per  Kentucky  battery  with  four  boats'  crews  of  picked  men,  in  a 
dark,  stormy  night.  He  was  next  ordered  to  Fort  Pillow,  and  left 
there  with  Gen.  Pope,  to  go  up  the  Tennessee  River.  He  partici 
pated,  with  distinguished  honors,  in  the  battles  at  r  armington,  was 
in  the  advance  at  the  occupation  of  Corinth,  commanding  a  brigade, 
his  old  regiment  being  the  first  to  plant  the  flag  on  the  rebel  \vrrks. 
Thence  he  was  ordered  to  Memphis,  where  he  again  distinguished 
himself  by  breaking  up  the  guerrilla  bands  infesting  that  part  of 
Tennessee  and  capturing  many  of  their  most  daring  and  dangerous 
chiefs.  From  thence,  with  his  regiment,  he  was  transferred  to  Gen. 
Rosecrans'  army,  and  participated  with  his  regiment,  in  the  bloody 
battle  of  Stone  River.  The  42d  was  attached  to  Sherman's  division, 
and  crowned  itself  with  glory  by  its  magnificent  bravery  and  the 
desperation  with  which  it  strove  to  repel  the  terrible  onset  upon  our 
right  wing  on  Wednesday.  The  men  fought  worthy  of  their  fame 
which  they  had  won  at  Corinth,  Farmington,  Island  No.  10  and 
scores  of  lesser  fields.  Every  man  was  a  hero,  and  splendidly  they  ' 
fought  against  fate.  Not  a  man  receded  although  the  odds  were 
overwhelming  and  their  numbers  were  rapidly  lessening,  until  their 
gallant  leader  fell  mortally  wounded  with  his  face  to  the  foe.  The 
heroism,  the  splendid  presence  which  had  inspired  them  was  gone. 


EGBERTS    AND    SCOTT.  383 

The  strong  arm  was  powerless,  and  the  brave  heart  which  he  had 
bared  to  the  pitiless  storm,  was  lifeless. 

Col.  Roberts  was  a  magnificent  specimen  of  a  man  physically  and 
mentally.  His  frame  was  almost  herculean  and  he  laughed  at  toils 
and  privations.  His  presence  was  commanding  and  his  deportment 
dignified.  Morally  and  intellectually  lie  preserved  a  strict  rectitude 
and  never  stooped  to  a  low  or  mean  action.  He  was  manly  in  the 
broadest  and  best  acceptation  of  the  term.  As  a  lawyer  he  was 
eminently  successful  and  had  achieved  an  enviable  fame,  although 
comparatively  a  stranger  at  the  Chicago  bar,  when  he  adopted  the 
military  profession.  As  a  soldier  he  was  a  model  for  all  men.  In 
the  language  of  a  speaker  at  his  funeral  obsequies,  who  knew  him 
intimately  and  well :  "  When  the  long  catalogue  of  disasters  which 
this  wicked  rebellion  has  entailed  upon  our  country  comes  to  be 
made  up,  prominent  among  these  disasters  shall  bo  the  martyrdom 
of  our  friend,  and  when  the  record  of  glorious  names  who  have  tes 
tified  their  loyalty  and  sealed  their  devotion  to  their  country  with 
their  blood  comes  to  be  written,  high  on  that  record  shall  his  name 
be  inscribed  and  gather  new  luster  with  each  succeeding  year." 

Col.  Joseph  R.  Scott,  of  the  19th  Illinois,  was  only  twenty-seven 
years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  one  of  the  youngest 
colonels  in  the  service.  He  was  born  in  Canada,  and  inherited  from 
his  parents  the  military  ardor  and  impulsive  bravery  which  charac* 
terized  and  so  honorably  distinguished  him.  Col.  Scott  was  em 
phatically  a  self-made  man.  Whatever  of  education,  of  reputation, 
or  of  military  knowledge  he  possessed,  was  due  to  his  own  exertions. 
Although  deprived  of  the  advantages  of  an  early  education,  he  man 
aged  in  the  intervals  of  labor,  from  boyhood  to  manhood,  so  to  per 
fect  himself  in  his  studies,  that  at  the  period  of  his  enlistment  he 
was  considered  an  excellent  English  scholar  and  a  young  man  of 
more  tnan  ordinary  promise.  The  trait  which  perhaps  peculiarly 
distinguished  him^ar  excellence  was  his  military  talent.  He  had  a 
peculiar  aptness  for  military  studies  and  pursued  them  with  enthusi 
astic  assiduity. 

There  was  a  remarkable  resemblance  between  Col.  Scott  and  Col. 
Ellsworth,  both  in  physique  and  in  military  accomplishments.  They 
were  of  about  the  same  age,  the  same  height,  the  same  compactness 
of  frame,  resembled  each  other  in  the  face  sufficiently  to  have  passed 


384  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

for  brothers,  and  both  were  apt  students  of  military  science,  espe 
cially  as  it  pertained  to  drill  and  soldierly  bearing,  and  both  were 
strict  disciplinarians.  These  qualities  combined  to  make  the  Zouave 
Cadets  probably  the  best  drilled  company  that  was  ever  organized 
in  the  United  States,  both  in  the  ordinary  school  and  in  the  in  >re 
elaborate  and  intricate  movements  of  the  French  Zouave  school,  de 
signed  more  for  ornament  than  use.  In  drill,  the  company  was 
reduced  to  the  harmony  and  unity  of  action  of  the  finest  regulated 
machine  and  carried  off  the  palm,  not  alone  at  home,  but  even  in 
the  large  eastern  cities  that  boasted  of  finely  drilled  regiments. 
They  created  a  furore  throughout  the  entire  country,  and  were  the 
originators  of  scores  of  Zouave  companies  that  rapidly  sprang  up, 
but  never  reached  the  excellence  of  the  Zouave  Cadets  of  Chicago. 
In  point  of  morals  the  two  young  officers  were  equally  agreed,  and 
the  practice  of  vice  in  any  of  its  branches,  repulsive  or  fashionable, 
was  sufficient  and  immediate  cause  for  dismissal.  These  stringent 
notions  of  discipline,  Col.  Ellsworth  used  with  great  effect  in  the 
government  of  the  New  York  Fire  Zouaves,  which  regiment  he  or 
ganized,  and  in  spite  of  the  wild,  ungovernable,  almost  ferocious 
material  with  which  he  had  to  deal,  he  reduced  it  to  a  comparatively 
well  disciplined  body.  He  was  the  earliest  victim  of  the  war  and 
died  while  trampling  on  the  rebel  flag  against  which  he  had  drawn 
sword.  It  seems  sad  that  a  young  officer  of  so  much  promise  had 
not  been  permitted  to  live  and  win  his  way  to  distinction. 

In  1856,  while  a  clerk  in  a  leading  dry  goods  house  of  Chicago j 
Scott  organized  a  company  of  young  men  called  the  National 
Cadets,  and  for  a  time  commanded  them.  When  Colonel  Ellsworth 
desired  them  to  adopt  the  drill  and  practice  of  the  French  Zouave 
school,  Col.  Scott  warmly  seconded  his  effort,  and  under  their  joint 
labors  the  Cadets  were  reorganized  as  the  "United  States  Zouave 
Cadets."  Of  this  company  Col.  Ellsworth  became  the  first  com 
mander  and  Col.  Scott  the  1st  Lieutenant.  In  the  brilliant  career 
of  the  independent  command — a  command  which  achieved  a  na 
tional  reputation  for  its  splendid  drill,  nearly  every  man  of  which  is  or 
has  been  an  officer  in  the  present  war,  Col.  Scott  bore  a  prominent 
and  honorable  part,  he  and  his  lamented  coadjutor  little  dreaming 
that  they  were  establishing  a  nursery  of  officers  who  would  shortly 
after  be  needed  in  the  real  din  and  strife. 


COLONEL   SCOTT.  385 

In  April,  18G1,  when  the  whole  country  was  ablaze  with  indigna 
tion  at  the  outrage  offered  our  flag  at  Sumter,  young  Scott  was  one 
of  the  first  to  offer  his  services  to  the  government.  In  the  hastily 
improvised  expedition  to  the  Big  Muddy  bridge,  at  the  time  Illinois 
was  on  the  point  of  being  invaded,  Col.  Scott  did  most  excellent 
service  in  guarding  the  bridge  at  that  place. 

When  the  19th  Illinois  was  organized,  he  was  elected  its  first 
colonel  but  subsequently  resigned  in  favor  of  Gen.  Turchin  and  ac 
cepted  the  Lieutenant- Colo-nelcy.  In  all  the  battles  in  which  the 
19th  participated,  up  to  the  time  of  his  decease,  he  was  present. 
Through  all  their  useless  marches  and  countermarches,  put  upon 
them  by  a  regime  which  was  seeking  to  break  them  down  and  im 
pair  their  usefulness,  he  accompanied  them,  sharing  their  toils  and 
privations  and  never  finding  fault  with  indignities  heaped  upon 
them,  confident  that  in  its  own  good  time  vindication  would  come. 
When  Col.  Turchin  was  commissioned  brigadier-general,  he  was 
appointed  colonel  of  the  regiment  and  led  them  through  the  bloody 
and  terrific  battle  of  Stone  River.  We  have  already  detailed  the 
splendid  conduct  of  his  regiment  and  his  own  heroic  bearing ;  how 
the  regiment  vindicated  itself  and  won  a  name  and  fame  which  will 
be  immortal ;  how  they  made  the  fearful  charge  which  saved  the  left 
and  the  day.  In  that  charge  he  was  wounded  in  the  groin  and  was 
brought  to  Chicago,  where,  under  the  attentive  and  devoted  care  of 
his  wife  and  excellent  surgical  aid,  he  wa's  in  a  fair  way  to  recover 
and  hoped  soon  to  rejoin  his  command.  That  hope,  however,  was 
crushed.  He  was  unfortunately  thrown  from  his  carriage,  and  his 
wound  reopened  and  commenced  to  bleed.  Mortification  ensued 
and  he  died  on  the  8th  of  July,  1863.  His  funeral  obsequies  were 
attended  with  military  honors  on  the  10th.  The  officiating  clergyman 
closed  the  funeral  discourse  with  the  following  just  tribute  to  his 
worth :  "  He  was  a  noble,  youthful  soldier,  calm  and  dignified,  and 
a  resolute  defender  of  the  right.  A  man  of  his  years,  who  can  say 
to  his  regiment,  l~No  spirituous  liquors,  and  not  one  oath  to  be 
used,'  it  would  seem  to  mortals  should  be  spared  to  his  men.  The 
country,  in  the  hour  of  her  peril,  but  just  as  the  dark  clouds  were 
widely  fringed  with  silvery  light,  and  just  closing  her  festivities  ap 
propriate  to  the  national  anniversary,  has  lost  a  youthful  soldier,  but 
a  calm  and  brave  leader."  25 


OHAPTEE    XXII. 

THE  THIRTY-FOURTH  AND  ITS  OFFICERS — THE  SEVENTY-NINTH — THE  TENTH  CAVALRY 
AND  ITS  OFFICERS — THE  SEVENTY-FOURTH — THE  SEVENTY-FIFTH — THE  TWENTY- 
SIXTH — THE  SIXTIETH — THE  SEVENTY-THIRD — ITS  OFFICERS— ITS  COLONEL  IN  DIXIE 

— BRYDGES  BATTERY. 

THIRTY-FOURTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

The  following  is  the  original  roster  of  the  regiment : 

Colonel,  Edward  N.  Kirk ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Amos  Bosworth ;  Major,  Charles  N. 
Levanway;  Adjutant,  David  Leavitt;  Quartermaster,  Abram  Beeler;  Surgeon, 
Francis  A.  McNeil ;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  George  "W.  Hewett ;  2d  Assistant  Surgeon, 
John  L.  Hostetter ;  Chaplain,  Michael  Decker. 

Co.  A — Captain,  E.  Brooks  Ward;  1st  Lieutenant,  Peter  Ege ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Jonathan  A.  Morgan. 

Co.  B — Captain,  Hiram  W.  Bristol ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Cornelius  Quackenbush  ; 
2d  Lieutenant,  John  A.  Parrott. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Alexander  P.  Dysart;  1st  Lieutenant,  Benson  Wood;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Daniel  Riley. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Truman  L.  Pratt ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  S.  Wood ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Simon  B.  Dexter. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Henry  Weld ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Samuel  L.  Patrick  ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Thomas  Bell. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Oscar  Van  Tassel ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Uriah  G.  Gallon ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  Slaughter. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Mabry  G.  Greenwood ;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  Hindman ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Samuel  R.  Cavender. 

Co.  H — Captain,  John  M.  Miller;  1st  Lieutenant,  David  C.  Wagner;  2d  Lieutenant 
Benjamin  R.  Wagner. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Lewis  Heftelfinger;  1st  Lieutenant,  Amos  W.  Hostetter;  2d 
Lieutenant,  James  Watson. 

Co.  K— Captain,  Orson  Q.  Herrick ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Stephen  Martin ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  David  A.  Zimmerman. 

This  regiment  combined  the  northern  and  southern  loyalty  of  the 


TSlRTY-FOtTRTH.  387 

State,  for  it  was  composed  of  companies  from  Carroll,  Lee,  Ogle 
and  Whiteside  upon  or  near  the  northern  line,  and  Coles  and  Mor 
gan  of  the  southern.  It  was  made  of  good  stuff,  as  the  result  has 
shown.  It  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  Springfield,  and  on  the 
1st  of  September,  1861,  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States.  On  the  2d  of  October  it  was  en  route  to  Cincinnati,  and 
was  among  the  first  to  march  to  the  rescue  of  Kentucky  from  its 
apostate  sons.  On  the  4th  it  entered  Covington  with  hospitable 
greetings  from  the  citizens.  The  next  day  it  proceeded  to  Lexing 
ton,  and  thence  on  the  9th  to  Louisville,  and  thence  to  Muldraugh's 
Hill  and  Nolin  or  Camp  Nevin.  Here  it  was  assigned,  October  18th, 
to  the  6th  brigade,  but  on  the  3d  of  December  was  transferred  to 
the  5th,  General  T.  J.  Wood  commanding. 

It  marched  through  Kentucky,  enjoyed  the  evacuation  of  Bowling 
Green ;  thence  March  2,  1862,  it  started  with  "The  Old  Second 
Division"  for  Nashville.  On  the  16th  of  March,  this  division,  with 
Buell's  army  moved  forward,  Colonel  Kirk  commanding  the  5th 
brigade.  The  line  of  march  lay  along  the  Alabama  and  Tennessee 
Railroad,  one  of  the  richest  portions  of  the  State,  and  early  as  it 
was,  the  country  was  in  the  beauty  of  May.  Onward  it  went 
through  Franklin  and  Spring  Hill  to  Rutherford's  Creek,  where  a 
halt  was  made  until  Kirk's  brigade  should  rebuild  a  bridge  burned 
by  the  enemy.  This  was  done  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Bosworth,  of  the  34th.  On  the  25th  it  was  reported  to 
General  McCook  that  at  Columbia  there  was  a  rebel  gun-factory, 
Lieutenant- Colonel  Bosworth  was  ordered  to  detail  a  party  to  take 
and  hold  the  factory.  Lieutenant  S.  B.  Dexter,  of  Co.  D,  took 
fifteen  men,  and  with  the  squad,  held  the  town  one  night.  The  34th 
was  detailed  to  guard  the  town  and  Major  Levanway  was  appointed 
post  commandant. 

March  31st,  the  division  moved  towards  Savannah,  Tennessee,  to 
effect  a  juncture  with  General  Grant,  and  on  the  6th  of  April,  after 
a  weary  march,  came  within  sound  of  the  cannon  of  Shiloh.  On 
the  morning  of  the  7th  it  entered  the  battle. 

There,  as  has  been  stated,  Major  Levanway  fell,  bravely  doing  a 
soldier's  duty.  Colonel  Kirk  was  severely  wounded,  and  Captains 
Miller  and  Patrick,  with  Lieutenants  Wood,  Parrott,  Wagner  and 


388  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Hiller  were  among  the  wounded.  The  34th  proved  itself  a  gallant 
and  efficient  regiment  on  that  field.  In  the  death  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Bosworth  the  regiment  and  the  service  sustained  a  sore 
loss.  He  had  furnished  evidence  of  rare  ability  on  the  field  and 
in  the  minutie  of  camp  government  and  instruction.  The  loss  in 
this  conflict  was  one  hundred  and  two  killed  and  wounded.  The 
death  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Bosworth  followed.  Captain  Hiram 
W.  Bristol,  who  commanded  after  the  fall  of  Levanway,  was  pro 
moted  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Captain  A.  P.  Dysart,  Major.  It 
moved  forward  and  participated  in  the  siege  of  Corinth.  On  the 
28th,  the  34th  participated  gallantly  in  a  skirmish  with  the  enemy, 
the  outposts,  Cos.  B,  G-  and  K,  being  under  command  of  Captain 
Wagner.  He  was  compelled  by  a  terrific  fire  to  change  his  line 
and  fall  back  sufficiently  to  uncover  the  enemy's  fire,  secured  by  the 
serpentine  formation  of  the  creek.  In  this  case  the  regiment  lost  in 
killed  and  wounded,  seven. 

After  the  surrender  it  remained  with  the  division  in  front  of 
Corinth  as  reserve,  until  June  6th,  when  it  moved  two  miles  south, 
and  on  the  10th  with  Buell's  army  moved  into  East  Tennessee.  It 
shared  the  weary  counter-march  so  famous  in  Buell's  strategy ; 
forced  back  from  his  Tennessee  and  Alabama  line  by  Bragg's  gen 
eralship,  he  returned  to  the  Ohio.  The  34th  shared  in  the  skirmish 
at  Floyd's  Fork ;  at  Claysville  it  poured  a  murderous  fire  upon  the 
advancing  foe,  compelling  it  to  break,  and  hastening  its  route.  It 
participated  in  the  affair  at  "Dog  Walk." 

Again  at  Stone  River  it  was  in  the  thunder  of  real  battle,  and 
from  December  26,  1862,  until  January  4,  1863,  maintained  the 
honor  of  the  State.  We  must  not  re-write  the  story  of  the  battle.  The 
34th  fought  valiantly,  and  its  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  one 
hundred  and  eighteen.  "  Here  fell  Captain  M.  G.  Greenwood  and 
lieutenant  John  M.  Smith,  Captain  Van  Tassel,  acting  Major,  and 
H.  Riley  were  wounded — the  latter  mortally."  (Dodge's  History.) 
Here  General  Kirk  was  mortally  wounded. 

In  the  engagement  of  Liberty  Gap,  the  regiment  lost  twenty-five 
killed  and  wounded,  among  whom  was  "  Lieutenant  Merrill,  a  gal 
lant  and  worthy  officer."  It  is  but  scanty  justice  to  say  with  Dodge, 
"  Indeed  on  all  the  battle-fields  where  this  regiment  has  been  en- 


LIEUTENANT-COLONEL   BOSWOETH.  389 

gaged,  it  has  ever  performed  its  whole  duty,  and  its  fearful  losses 
attest  the  fact  more  potently  than  words." 

Again  at  Mission  Ridge  the  34th  participated  gloriously  in  that 
superb  victory,  and  then  inarched  to  relieve  the  gallant  Burnside  at 
Knoxville.  It  returned  to  Chattanooga  and  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran 
regiment,  and  after  enjoying  its  well-earned  furlough,  returned  and 
was  placed  in  the  2d  brigade  of  General  Davis's  division  of  the 
Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  and  has  participated  in  the  marches  and 
victories  of  the  gallant  Sherman,  yet  to  be  traced.  It  was  mus 
tered  with  eight  hundred  and  twenty,  increased  by  muster  and  trans 
fer  to  nine  hundred  and  ten.  October  10,  1863,  it  numbered  four 
hundred  and  ninety-four  ! 

Lieutenant- Colonel  Amos  Bosworth,  was  born  at  Royalton,  Ver 
mont,  April  12,  1831,  and  received  a  common  English  education. 
His  father  removed  in  1858  to  Grand  de  Tour,  Illinois.  Amos 
formed  a  business  partnership  under  the  style  of  "  Andrews  and 
Bosworth."  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  his  plowshare  was 
changed  for  the  sword,  and  with  General  Kirk  and  Major  Le van- 
way,  he  aided  in  raising  the  34th  and  was  chosen  its  second  officer. 
The  Colonel  being  placed  over  a  brigade  the  Lieutenant- Colonel  com 
manded  the  regiment,  and  proved  himself  an  excellent  officer. 
Says  Dodge :  "  His  zeal  in  hastening  the  completion  of  the  bridge 
at  Rutherford's  Creek  was  doubtless  one  of  the  means  in  the  hands 
of  Divine  Providence  of  saving  General  Grant's  army  at  Shiloh,  in 
the  ever  memorable  battle  of  Shiloh,  on  the  6th  of  April,  by  the 
rapid  movement  of  Buell's  column  marching  to  his  assistance. 
But  this  was  the  Colonel's  crowning  work.  Nearly  all  one  day  he 
worked  in  the  water  waist-deep,  from  which  he  took  a  severe  cold, 
ending  in  a  fever.  He  was  borne  thence  to  Savannah,  Tennessee, 
in  an  ambulance.  During  the  battle  of  the  7th  he  lay  at  Savannah 
in  the  delirium  of  fever,  and  occasionally  hearing  the  thunder 
of  artillery  from  the  field,  he  would  rouse  up  and  insist  upon 
going  to  Pittsburg  Landing  to  take  command  of  the  regiment. 
He  continued  to  fail  rapidly,  and  was  removed  from  Savannah,  but 
upon  reaching  Dixon,  Illinois,  only  a  few  miles  from  his  home,  he 
was  so  low  that  the  journey  could  not  be  continued  longer,  He 
died  of  typhus  fever,  at  the  residence  of  his  friend  "W.  C.  Andrus, 
April  23,  1862.  He  was  buried  at  Grand  de  Tour,  on  the  27th." 


390  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

His  brothers  of  the  ancient  order  gathered  sadly  about  his  open 
grave.     It  seemed  an  untimely  death,  but  God  hath  his  secret  ways. 

Colonel  Hiram  W.  Bristol  was  born  at  Ravenna,  Ohio.  He  was 
a  student  in  Alleghany  College,  Meadville,  Pa.,  from  1850  to  1856. 
He  studied  law  with  Judge  Day  of  Ravenna.  In  1859  he  removed 
to  Morrison,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro 
fession.  With  the  outbreak  of  rebellion  he  raised  a  company  of 
three  months'  men,  but  it  was  before  the  War  Department  had 
learned  to  accept  all  the  men  offered,  and  it  was  not  accepted. 
When  the  gallant  34th  was  organized,  he  was  mustered  as  Cap 
tain  of  Company  B.  When  the  Major  Levanway  fell,  he  found 
himself  in  command,  and  led  the  regiment  through  the  rest  of  the 
fight  of  Shiloh.  He  was  promoted  as  Major  in  the  place  of  Levan 
way,  on  the  battle-field.  April  18,  1862,  he  was  promoted  Lieuten 
ant-Colonel,  and  on  the  promotion  of  General  Kirk,  was  made 
Colonel,  his  commission  dating  from  December  19,  1862.  On  the 
8th  of  March  following,  broken  down  in  health,  he  resigned  his 
commission.  Says  Dodge : 

"  On  the  31st  of  December,  the  day  so  fatal  to  the  right  wing  of 
the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  being  unable  to  sk  on  his  horse,  he  drove 
to  the  front  in  an  ambulance,  and  was  twice  taken  prisoner  and 
twice  recaptured — being  under  fire  from  daylight  until  3  p.  M.,  when 
he  reached  the  field  hospital  in  the  rear  of  the  center  of  the  army, 
where  he  was  taken  out  nearly  insensible,  and  on  the  4th  of  January 
was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Nashville. 

"  Colonel  Bristol  was  a  good  commander,  thoroughly  versed  in 
the  duties  of  his  profession,  and  as  brave  an  officer  as  ever  led  a 
command  on  the  field.  His  conduct  at  Shiloh  was  the  admiration  of 
all  who  witnessed  it,  and  he  will  not  soon  be  forgotten  by  the  brave 
boys  he  once  had  the  honor  to  command." 

Colonel  Alexander  P.  Dysart,  who  succeeded  Colonel  Bristol,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  February  26,  1826,  and  came  into  Lee  County,, 
Illinois,  in  184*7,  where  he  resided  as  a  farmer.  He  raised  Company 
C  for  the  34th  and  was  chosen  its  captain.  At  Shiloh,  after  Captain 
Bristol  assumed  command  of  the  regiment,  he  acted  as  Major,  and 
was  promoted  to  that  rank  on  the  18th  of  the  same  month. 

Upon    the    resignation    of    Colonel  Bristol,   he   was   promoted 


THE    SEVENTY-NINTH.  391 

Colonel,  his  commission1  dating  from  November  29,  1862.  He  con 
tinued  with  the  regiment  until  its  arrival  at  Tullahoma,  in  July,  1863, 
when  he  tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted,  to  date  from 
August  7,  1863.  As  commander  he  was  much  beloved  by  his  men. 

THE  SEVENTY-NINTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

This  regiment  was  brigaded,  through  the  campaigns  of  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  with  the  34th,  sharing  its  marches  and  privations, 
and  should  properly  find  a  record  with  it. 

ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 

Colonel,  Lyman  Guinnip ;  Lieutenant  Colonel,  Sheridan  P.  Read ;  Major,  Allen 
Buckner;  Adjutant,  William H.  Lamb ;  Quartermaster,  Charles E.  Woodward;  Sur 
geon,  ;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  Henry  C.  McAllister ;  2d  Assistant 

Surgeon,  Thomas  J.  Wheeler ;  Chaplain,  Cornelius  G.  Bradshaw. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Terrance  Clark;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  S.  Price  ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
John  Mitchell. 

Co.  B — Captain,  Archibald  Vanderin;  1st  Lieutenant,  Seth  L.  Woodworth  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Horace  W.  Rideout. 

Co.  C — Captain,  David  S.  Curtis ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  S.  Hendrix ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  H.  Patton. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Thomas  A.  Young ;  1st  Lieutenant,  David  B.  Elliott ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  P.  Vance. 

Co.  E — Captain,  William  A.  Low ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Harvey  J.  Bassell ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Henry  S.  Albin. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Thomas  Handy;  1st  Lieutenant,  David  S.  Williams;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  James  R.  Patten. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Oliver  0.  Bagley ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Martin  L.  Lininger  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Thomas  B.  Jacobs. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Willis  0.  Pennil ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  T.  Braddock ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Andrew  J.  Bigelow. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Robert  Lacy;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  Week;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Samuel  Sharp. 

Co.  K— Captain,  Hezekiah  D.  Martin ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  W.  Davis ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Moses  Hunter. 

It  was  recruited,  by  order  of  Governor  Yates,  from  the  counties 
of  Clark,  Douglas,  Edgar  and  Vermillion.  It  was  organized  at  Camp 
Terry,  Mattoon,  Coles  county,  Illinois,  and  was  mustered  into  the  U. 
S.  service  Aug.  28,  1862,  and  in  September  proceeded  to  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  It  was  assigned,  on  the  13th  of  September,  to  the  3d 


392  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

brigade,  General  Craft's  division,  army  of  Kentucky.  On  the  29th 
it  was  transferred  to  the  4th  brigade  of  the  2d  division,  and  October 
5th,  to  the  5th,  under  Gen.  Kirk.  Col.  Guinnip  resigned  shortly 
after  the  regiment  entered  service,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Sheridan  P.  Read 
was  commissioned  Colonel  and  Henry  E.  Rives  Lieutenant- Colon  el. 

The  79th  came  first  into  battle  at  Stone  River,  and  its  steadiness 
and  veteran-like  coolness  elicited  commendation  from  commanding 
officers.  Here  its  gallant  Colonel  fell,  another  costly  sacrifice  011  the 
altar  of  freedom. 

Thenceforward,  for  a  long  time,  its  history  is  with  the  same  divi 
sion  and  brigade,  and  wherever  it  marched  it  maintained  its  Stone 
River  fame.  In  the  terrible  conflict  of  Chickamauga  it  displayed 
extraordinary  bravery.  The  division  with  which  it  had  been  con 
nected  having  been  disorganized,  it  was  assigned  to  Col.  Harker's 
brigade  of  General  Sheridan's  division,  4th  army  corps.  At  the 
battle  of  Mission  Ridge  it  charged  the  rugged  hights,  and  penetra 
ting  the  enemy's  breast- works,  captured  two  heavy  guns.  It  there, 
as  elsewhere,  bore  itself  bravely,  and  proved  itself  worthy  to  be 
associated  with  the  34th.  It  went  over  the  long  weary  march  to 
Knoxville  to  the  relief  of  Burnside,  threatened  by  the  superior  forces 
of  Longstreet.  It  has  subsequently  been  in  East  Tennessee,  and 
later  participated  in  the  engagements  at  Dalton  and  Buzzard's  Roost. 
At  the  latter  the  brave  C.ol.  Buckner  was  seriously  wounded. 

Its  record  is  with  campaigns  yet  to  be  written,  fields  remaining  to 
be  described.  For  with  the  Illinois  men  who  marched  southward 
went  honor,  and  they  carried  the  key  which  was  to  unlock  the  por 
tals  of  secession  and  open  the  way  for  freedom  arid  Union. 

TENTH  CAVALRY  REGIMENT,  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 
The  following  is  the  original  roster  of  the  regiment : 

Colonel,  James  A.  Barrett;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Dudley  Wickersham;  1st  Major, 
ElinP.  Shaw;  2d  Major,  Joseph  S.  Smith  ;  3d  Major,  Marshal  L.  Stephenson ;  Adju 
tant,  James  Stuart ;  Adjutant  1st  Battalion,  Eli  H.  Hosea;  Adjutant  2 d  Battalion, 
Thomas  D.  Vredenburg  Adjutant  3d  Battalion,  Henry  Turney ;  Quarter-Master,  John 
H.  Barrett ;  Quarter-Master  1st  Battalion,  Daniel  L.  Canfield ;  Quarter-Master  2d 
Battalion,  John  P.  Cavanaugh ;  Commissary,  Edwin  R.  Neal ;  Assistant-Surgeon, 
Wm.  E.  Wilson ;  Chaplain,  Francis  Springer. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Garrett  Elkin;  1st  Lieutenant,  Alfred  A.  North;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Thomas  H.  Anderson. 


TENTH    CAVALRY.  393 

Co.  B— Captain,  Samuel  N.  Hitt ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Augustus  A.  Shutt ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Joseph  B.  McCartney. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Hiram  E.  Barstow ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Hiram  C.Walker;  2<1  Lieuten 
ant,  Seth  Ingalsbe. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Ephraim  Bartle ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Hiram  Cady;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Wm.  Bennett. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Henry  Reily ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Columbus  Cross  ;  2d  Lieutenant 
John  Mabee. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Isaac  H.  Ferguson ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Wm.  A.  Chapin ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Felix  Droll. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Wm.  S.  Hunter ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Zimri  B.  Bates ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Wm.  A.  Stinnett. 

Co.  II — Captain,  Thomas  S.  Crafton;  1st  Lieutenant,  Herman  B.  Hoffman;  2d 
Lieutenant,  John  W.  Crafton. 

Co.  I — Captain,  James  Butterfield ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  S.  Freeman;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  F.  Black. 

Co.  K— Captain,  Cavil  K.  Wilson;  1st  Lieutenant,  David  H.  Wilson;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  George  W.  Curry. 

Co.  L — Captain,  Thomas  Y.  Wilson;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  G.  Roberts;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Thomas  D.  Vredenburg. 

Co.  M — Captain,  Wm.  S.  Moore ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Elhanen  J.  Searle  ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Wm.  H.  Watson. 

The  10th  cavalry  regiment,  Illinois  volunteers,  was  organized  at 
Springfield,  in  the  fall  of  1861,  where  they  remained  until  April,  1862, 
when  they  removed  to  Springfield,  Missouri. 

They  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Arkansas, 
Dec.  2,  1862,  Col.  Wickersham  having  charge  of  the  following  cav 
alry  regiments :  2d  Wisconsin,  1st  Iowa,  10th  Illinois  and  8th  Mis 
souri.  At  the  battle  of  Van  Buren,  Arkansas,  Dec.  28th,  the  cavalry 
regiments — the  10th  among  the  number — bore  a  most  conspicuous 
part,  and  also  at  the  battle  of  Milliken's  Bend,  Richmond,  Louisiana, 
Bayou  Metre  and  Little  Rock.  They  participated  in  the  celebrated 
battle  and  siege  of  Yicksburg,  and  in  almost  numberless  skirmishes, 
expeditions  and  reconnoissances.  No  regiment  marched  further, 
surmounted  more  difficulties,  acted  in  more  capacities,  or  accom 
plished  more  in  the  same  length  of  time  than  did  they.  They  are 
not  only  perfect  in  cavalry  tactics  but  efficient  as  infantry  soldiers 
and  artillerists.  During  the  first  three  years  of  their  service  they 
corduroyed  miles  of  swamps,  built  fortifications,  bridged  rivers,  and 
always  vanquished  the  enemy  whether  on  foot  or  mounted. 


394:  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

The  regiment  re-enlisted  as  veterans  and  was  attached  to  Gen. 
Carr's  cavalry  division — formerly  Gen.  Davidson's — at  that  time 
serving  in  the  army  of  the  Arkansas,  under  Major-General  Fred. 
Steel.  We  subjoin  the  following  extracts  from  the  speech  of  Gov 
ernor  Yates  to  the  10th  Illinois  cavalry: 

"  Col.  Wickersham,  Officers  and  Soldiers  of  the  IQth  Illinois  Cavalry: 

"  I  have  been  requested  by  the  Mayor  of  the  city  and  many  of 
your  numerous  friends,  to  say  a  word  of  welcome  to  you  on  your 
arrival  home.  But  not  only  because  I  am  invited,  but  prompted  by 
the  feelings  of  my  own  heart,  and  because  I  know  it  is  the  desire  of 
the  people  of  the  State,  of  whom  I  am  the  humble  representative,  I 
bid  you  welcome  to-day,  on  your  return  to  your  homes  from  the  field 
of  duty. 

"  Some  time  in  January,  1861,  two  years  ago,  you  left  Camp  Butler 
and  were  stationed  for  a  short  time  in  Missouri.  You  then,  by  long 
and  tedious  marches,  reached  Arkansas  and  Louisiana,  and  most  of 
you,  if  not  all,  have  helped  to  achieve  the  glorious  victories  which 
have  been  won  in  these  States.  It  is  well  known  that  cavalry  regi 
ments  cannot  be  always  together,  but  whether  you  have  been  placed 
on  duty  as  a  regiment,  in  companies,  in  battalions  or  in  squads,  the 
10th  cavalry  was  always  where  danger  was  nearest,  and  wherever 
duty  called  you,  and  you  are  justly  entitled  to  inscribe  upon  your 
banner  the  names  of  Little  Rock,  Prairie  Grove,  Van  Buren,  Milli- 
ken's  Bend,  Richmond,  Louisiana  and  Vicksburg. 

"Many  are  the  instances  of  bravery  reported  from  Illinois  regi 
ments,  but  I  doubt  if  there  is  one  which  has  surpassed  you  in  deeds 
of  noble  valor.  Your  record,  as  soldiers,  is  glorious  enough,  but 
when  it  is  remembered  that  at  the  call  of  your  country,  disregarding 
all  political  and  party  feeling,  you  left  your  homes  and  friends,  and 
members  of  all  parties  went  to  fight,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  for  our 
common  cause,  and  that  you  have  now  returned,  again  to  enter  the 
ranks  of  our  army,  again  to  fight  for  the  Union  and  Constitution, 
you  are  doubly  entitled  to  our  gratitude. 

"  You  have  re-enlisted  as  veterans,  a  name  which  you  are  truly  en 
titled  to ;  not  satisfied  with  the  services  which  you  have  rendered  to 
your  country,  with  the  dangers  you  have  encountered,  the  privations 
and  sufferings  you  have  endured— not  satisfied  with  all  this— you 


GOV.    YATES'S   ADDRESS.  395 

have  come  back  only  to  say  to  your  friends,  to  your  country,  and  to 
your  God  :  '  We  will  not  now  desert  the  cause  for  which  we  have 
been  fighting  and  for  which  we  have  been  suffering;  that  we  will  not 
rest  until  that  glorious  flag  which  has  been  leading  us  on  many  a 
field  of  battle,  will  float  again  over  a  united  and  peaceful  country.' 

"You  may  say  with  just  pride  that  you  belong  to  an  Illinois 
regiment.  Upon  every  battle-field  from  Donelson,  Pea  Ridge  and 
Shiloh  to  Gettysburg,  there  was  the  never  wavering,  never  faltering 
flag  of  Illinois,  and  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight  the  bravest  of  her 
sons,  always  ready  when  duty  called,  never  quailing  before  the  foe. 
Illinois  has  sent  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  of  her  sons  to  the 
field  ;  cheerfully  has  she  furnished  the  flower  of  the  State  at  the  call 
of  the  President.  I  do  not  forget  the  cost  of  this  war,  nor  our  noble 
dead.  The  graves  of  many  of  her  bravest  boys  are  scattered  along 
the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Cumberland,  and  the  Potomac ; 
and  many — many  of  them  on  all  the  battle-fields  from  Chattanooga 
to  Gettysburg — sleep  far  from  their  beloved  homes.  But  they  have 
only  died  a  few  years  before  us;  their  memories  will  ever  be 
cherished  by  a  grateful  people;  and,  if  necessary,  I  am  prepared  to 
say  now,  we  have  a  hundred  thousand  more  to  furnish,  as  loyal, 
brave,  and  patriotic,  to  help  crush  this  unholy  and  wicked  rebellion. 

"  I  had  not  intended  saying  so  much,  but  I  have  been  following 
you,  and  every  Illinois  soldier,  from  the  moment  you  left  the  State 
till  you  returned.  I  have  been  watching  you  on  your  marches,  in 
camp  and  on  the  battle-field,  rejoicing  over  your  victories  and 
mourning  over  your  defeats.  I  have  received  your  letters  out  of 
camp,  from  the  field,  and  from  the  sick  bed.  I  have  received  letters 
from  the  dear  ones  you  left  at  home.  They  have  looked  up  to  me 
as  their  protector,  and  I  could  hardly  say  less  than  I  have  said. 
Now,  on  your  return,  I  can  say  justly  that  I  am  proud  of  you.  You 
have  conducted  yourselves  as  patriots,  and  you  have  never  disgraced 
the  noble  flag  under  which  you  have  fought. 

"  In  thirty  days  you  will  return  to  the  field,  and  we  will  have  one 
hundred  thousand  more  bayonets  to  help  you  finish  this  work ;  and 
you  will  then  push  them  forward  till  the  battle-worn  veterans  of 
Grant,  with  the  additional  hundred  thousand  will  meet  the  force  of 
Lee.  But  my  confidence  in  you  makes  me  look  forward  to  this  con- 


306  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

flict  without  fear.  Fierce  as  this  battle  will  "be,  for  it  is  a  fight  of 
American  against  American,  and  among  those  on  the  opposite  side, 
although  misguided  and  fighting  for  a  bad  cause,  are  brave  men,  as 
brave  as  any  in  our  ranks,  yet  I  know  that  victory  will  crown  our 
banners. 

"And  when,  at  one  mighty  gathering,  the  people  of  Illinois  will 
meet  the  returning  soldiers,  and  as  they  pass  in  serried  ranks  upon 
the  wide  prairie,  with  their  old  battle-scarred  banners  and  shivered 
cannons,  rusty  bayonets  and  sabers,  with  rebel  flags  and  rebel  tro 
phies  of  every  kind,  at  this  mighty  procession,  surpassing  the 
proudest  festival  of  Rome  and  ancient  Greece  in  their  palmiest  days ; 
then  the  mighty  shout  of  a  grateful  people  will  go  up.  All  hail  to 
the  veterans  who  have  given  our  flag  to  the  battle  and  the  breeze, 
and  saved  our  country  forever  as  the  asylum  for  Union,  liberty  and 
humanity.  Again  I  say,  with  all  my  heart,  welcome  home !" 

COLONEL  WICKEESHAM  was  born  in  Woodford  county,  Kentucky, 
in  1820.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  1844  emigrated 
to  Springfield,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  Mexican  war,  he  enlisted  in  the  4th  Illi 
nois  infantry,  and  served  under  the  gallant  and  lamented  orator, 
statesman  and  patriot,  Col.  E.  D.  Baker. 

On  the  21st  of  September,  1861,  he  was  appointed  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  of  the  10th  Illinois  cavalry,  by  Governor  Yates,  and  upon 
the  resignation  of  Col.  Barrett,  he  was  selected  colonel  of  the  regi 
ment  by  acclamation. 

During  his  military  career  in  northwest  Missouri,  and  while  in 
command  at  Fayetteville,  Arkansas,  Col.  Wickersham  was  particu 
larly  successful  in  his  dealings  with  hundreds  of  half-decided  follow 
ers  of  secession.  He  was  moderate  and  forbearing  almost  beyond 
measure,  when  that  policy  was  deemed  best  by  the  administration 
and  a  majority  of  the  people  of  the  country.  As  the  rebellion  pro 
gressed,  and  a  more  vigorous  and  determined  policy  was  adopted, 
none  was  more  justly  severe  than  he  in  laying  the  hand  of  military 
powers  upon  the  neck  of  the  rebellious  race. 

He  was  in  command  of  important  posts  and  brigades  most  of  the 
time,  and  for  some  months  was  the  commander  of  the  2d  division 
of  the  army  of  the  frontier  under  Gen.  Herron,  whilst  his  regiment 


THE    SEVENTY-FOUBTEt.  307 

was  commanded  by  the  Lient.-Col.  Stuart,  a  brave  and  accomplished 
cavalry  officer.  Col.  Wickersham  proved  himself  a  brave  and  effi 
cient  officer,  esteemed  by  all  those  with  whom  he  was  associated,  and 
loved  and  respected  by  the  officers  and  men  of  his  own  regiment. 

SEVENTY-FOURTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

The  7  4th  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Fuller,  in  Rockford, 
Illinois,  September  4,  1862,  where  it  remained  until  September  28th. 
The  following  was  the  original  roster : 

Colonel,  Jason  Marsh ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  James  B.  Kerr ;  Major,  Edward  F. 
Butcher  ;  Adjutant,  Edward  A.  Blodgett ;  Quartermaster,  Lewis  Williams  ;  Sur 
geon,  Charles  N.  Ellinwood ;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  Henry  Strong ;  2d  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Chesseldon  Fisher ;  Chaplain, . 

Co.  A — Captain,  Thomas  J.  L.  Remington ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Josiah  W.  Leffing- 
well ;  2d  Lieutenant,  Alfred  Barker. 

Co.  B — Captain,  David  0.  Buttolph;  1st  Lieutenant,  Augustus  W.  Thompson;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Edwin  Swift. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Hampton  P.  Sloan ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Christopher  M.  Brazee  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Richard  P.  Blaisdell. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Jonathan  H.  Douglas ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Hobert  H.  Hatch  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  John  H.  Nye. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Elias  Cosper ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  Powell ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Alpheus  M.  Blakely. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Henry  C.  Barker ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Jerome  E.  Andrews ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Cyrenius  N.  Woods. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Bowman  W.  Bacon;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  R.  Hoadley ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  David  McKaig. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Timothy  B.  Taylor ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Samuel  Whitmyer ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Andrew  J.  Belts. 

Co.  I — Captain,  William  Irvin ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Frederick  W.  Stegner ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Daniel  Cronemiller. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Butler  Ward  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  N.  Baker;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Albert  G.  Lakin. 

It  reached  Louisville,  Ky.,  a  little  past  midnight  September  30th, 
and  bivouacked  in  the  streets  of  that  city  without  shelter,  weary 
and  hungry,  being  the  last  regiment  crossing  the  Ohio  to  join  the 
army  under  General  Buell,  which,  the  next  morning,  October  1st, 
moved  in  pursuit  of  Bragg. 

Just  at  the  close  of  the  battle  of  Perrysville,  Ky.,  October  8th, 
the  74th  having  been  in  reserve,  advanced  upon  the  foe  at  double 


398  JPATRIOMM   OF  ILLINOIS. 

quick,  and  within  musket  range,  but  the  enemy  retreating  at  that 
point  and  night  closing  in,  the  regiment  did  but  little  actual  fighting. 
October  10th  it  had  a  sharp  skirmish  with  the  rear  of  Bragg' s  forces 
at  Lancaster,  but  only  one  man  in  the  brigade  was  killed. 

After  the  army  had  marched  to  Crab  Orchard  and  returned  to 
Danville,  Ky.,  the  74th,  together  with  the  22d  Indiana  Volunteers, 
and  a  section  of  the  5th  Wisconsin  battery,  was  sent  back  on  a 
forced  march  about  thirty  miles  in  the  direction  of  Richmond,  Ky., 
beyond  Lowell,  on  a  secret  and  fruitless  expedition,  the  object  of 
which  remains  unknown,  but  the  effect  of  excessive  marching  and 
over- working,  without  shelter  or  protection  through  the  cold  nights, 
and  with  scant  supply  of  rations,  told  most  fearfully  upon  the  men, 
so  that  by  the  time  they  reached  Lebanon,  Ky.,  the  sick,  disabled 
and  broken  down  were  numbered  by  hundreds.  No  other  service  or 
battle  of  the  74th  has  ever  equaled,  in  disabling  the  men,  that  unex 
plained  expedition.  On  the  26th  of  December,  1862,  the  army  of  the 
Cumberland  under  command  of  General  Rosecrans,  moved  from  Nash 
ville  toward  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day  the 
brigade  to  which  this  regiment  belonged  overtook  the  enemy  at 
Nolensville,  where  it  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  had  several  hours' 
skirmishing  with  infantry  and  artillery,  without  any  casuality  except 
one  wounded.  The  march  was  continued  from  that  day,  Friday, 
with  daily  skirmishing,  until  Tuesday  evening,  December  30th,  just 
at  dark,  when  our  forces  came  upon  the  enemy,  who  formed  in 
line  of  battle ;  our  men  opened  fire  upon  them,  killing  one  and 
wounding  another. 

Early  the  next  morning  commenced  the  battle  of  Stone  River* 
Without  going  again  into  the  details  of  the  disasters  upon  the  right, 
it  is  simple  justice  to  say  this  regiment  kept  its  ground  in  unbroken 
order,  and  by  a  steady,  well  ordered  fire,  held  the  enemy  in  front  in 
check  until  the  regiments  on  their  right  and  left  had  fallen  clear  back 
from  the  line  and  almost  out  of  sight,  and  the  enemy  had  nearly 
flanked  it  on  both  sides ;  and  when  it  retreated,  did  so  in  perfect 
order,  and  rallied  on  the  reserve. 

In  the  march  from  Murfreesboro  to  Winchester,  in  June,  1863,  the 
regiment  was  under  the  command  of  Lieut-Col.  Kerr,  Col.  Marsh 
being  obliged  to  remain  in  camp  on  account  of  illness.  During  this 


THF   SEVENTY-FOURTH.  399 

march  it  was  engaged  in  several  slight  skirmishes  with  the  enemy. 
The  brigade,  commanded  by  Colonel  Post,  was  detached  from  the 
division  on  the  advance  from  Stevenson  to  Chattanooga  for  the  pur 
pose  of  protecting  the  rear  and  the  trains,  therefore  was  not  en 
gaged  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  But  leaving  Valley  Head  the 
day  after  the  battle,  and  proceeding  along  the  base  of  Lookout 
Mountain  towards  Chattanooga,  its  march  was  attended  almost 
every  mile  with  the  most  singular  incidents,  of  close  approach  to  the 
enemy's  forces,  hair-breadth  escapes  from  capture  or  destruction, 
sharp  and  frequent  skirmishes,  the  whole  force  of  the  enemy  cover 
ing  the  country  all  along  on  their  right,  and  yet  it  reached  Chat 
tanooga  with  the  entire  train  without  the  loss  of  a  single  man. 

On  its  arrival  at  Chattanooga,  the  brigade  was  placed  on  out 
post  duty,  guarding  and  constructing  the  front  line  of  entrench 
ments,  almost  hourly,  day  and  night,  exposed  to  sudden  attacks  of 
the  enemy,  which  were,  however,  successfully  repelled.  It  re 
mained  at  this  duty  for  six  days ;  in  the  meantime  the  74th,  in  con 
nection  with  the  22d  Indiana  Volunteers,  made  a  pretty  thorough 
reconnoisance  upon  the  enemy's  line,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
his  position  in  force  in  our  front.  In  successfully  effecting  this  pur 
pose  the  regiment  lost  one  man  killed  and  some  severely  wounded. 
The  occupation  of  Chattanooga,  followed  with  the  numerous  vicis 
situdes  and  incidents,  hardships,  exposures  and  privations^  and  the 
final  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain  and  Mission  Ridge,  remain 
to  be  written.  At  Mission  Ridge  the  74th  distinguished  itself  for 
gallantry,  as  will  be  seen  hereafter. 

Soon  after  this  battle,  November  28th,  it  left  Chattanoogo  with 
the  entire  4th  corps  for  Knoxville,  and  went  into  camp  near  that 
place,  and  remained  there  during  the  winter,  assisting  in  guarding 
the  town.  In  May,  1864,  the  regiment  moved  toward  Atlanta,  and 
encamped  about  sixty  miles  from  there,  near  Kingston,  Georgia.  On 
the  17th  it  had  an  engagement  with  the  enemy,  losing  five  killed 
and  forty-seven  wounded.  Among  the  wounded  were  Lieutenants 
Holland  and  Allen.  It  left  Kingston  a  few  days  after  and 
marched  thirty  miles  nearer  Atlanta,  and  went  into  camp  near  Dal 
las,  Georgia,  May  29th,  at  which  time  it  again  encountered  the  enemy, 
losing  two  killed  and  four  wounded.  From  this  date  until  June  5th, 


400  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

it  was  on  the  skirmish  line  nearly  all  the  time,  and  lost  five  men 
killed  and  seven  wounded.  On  the  15th  of  June  the  regiment  took 
up  the  line  of  march  again,  this  time  encamping  near  Marietta, 
twenty  miles  from  the  much  coveted  city  of  Atlanta.  It  had  lost 
in  this  campaign  thus  far,  ninety-two  killed  and  wounded.  On  the 
27th  of  June  it  made  a  charge  upon  the  rebel  works  and  was 
repulsed  with  the  loss  of  eleven  killed  and  forty  wounded. 

Soon  after  the  fall  of  Atlanta  the  regiment  left  Georgia  for  Chat 
tanooga,  where  it  remained  until  October  31st,  when  it  moved 
toward  Pulaski,  Tennessee,  which  place  was  reached  on  the  12th 
of  November.  This  march  proved  a  very  long  and  severe  one  ;  the 
regiment  traveling  over  140  miles  through  mud  and  rain.  On  the  25th 
it  built  breast-works,  and  on  the  27th  fell  back  across  Duck  River. 
On  the  29th  the  division  was  suddenly  ordered  to  march  to  Spring 
Hill.  The  brigade  formed  a  line  of  battle,  and  the  74th  and  89th 
were  deployed  as  skirmishers,  with  a  loss  of  one  man  killed  and 
three  wounded.  The  brigade  to  which  the  74th  belonged,  guarded 
the  rear  in  the  march  to  Franklin.  The  enemy  were  very  bold,  and 
made  a  dash  to  come  upon  the  train,  but  a  little  after  noon,  the 
Union  troops,  with  the  exception  of  fifteen  or  twenty  wagons,  were 
all  in  Franklin.  About  half-past  three  o'clock  a  shell  from  the  enemy 
burst  over  our  ranks  about  a  mile  from  where  the  74th  lay.  It  was 
followed  by  others,  and  this  seemed  a  signal  for  an  assault  along  the 
whole  line  near  them.  The  men  were  on  their  feet  in  an  instant, 
and  were  ordered  forward  to  the  works. 

Among  the  killed  were  Captains  Stegner  and  Barker,  and 
Buttolph,  who  died  from  his  wounds  there  received.  Lieut. -Colonel 
Kerr  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  Although  his  wound  was 
not  at  first  thought  to  be  severe,  it  proved  mortal,  and  the  regiment 
mourns  a  brave  and  efficient  officer,  one  who  knew  no  fear,  who  was 
ever  ready  for  duty.  In  the  absence  of  the  Colonel,  who  was  at 
that  time  sick  in  hospital,  the  regiment  was  put  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Bryan. 

In  the  early  part  of  July  it  moved  its  camp  to  within  six  miles  of 
Atlanta.  It  was  engaged  in  frequent  skirmishes  with  the  enemy, 
and  was  employed  a  part  of  the  time  in  building  breast  works.  On 
the  2d  of  August  it  lost  one  man  killed  in  the  skirmish.  Early 


COLONEL    MARSH.  401 

on  the  morning  of  the  25th  it  again  changed  camp  and  this  time 
bivouacked  within  four  miles  of  Atlanta.  On  the  1st  of  September  it 
started  on  the  Macon  railroad,  and  at  Battle  Station,  fourteen  miles 
east  of  Atlanta,  destroyed  the  track  for  six  miles,  and  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  same  day  encountered  the  enemy.  It  captured  a  hospital 
and  several  prisoners,  and  lost  ten  or  twelve  missing.  Captains 
Bryan  and  Hatch,  unarmed,  captured  four  rebels,  one  of  Avhom 
carried  a  loaded  rifle. 

Colonel  Jason  Marsh  was  born  at  Woodstock,  Vermont,  March  4, 
1808.  His  father,  who  was  a  substantial,  industrious  farmer,  died 
when  his  son  was  ten  years  old.  His  mother  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
ninety,  was  yet  in  the  enjoyment  of  tolerable  health,  unimpared 
intellectual  faculties,  and  a  calm,  placid,  loving  spirit;  a  noble  speci 
men  of  the  real  woman  of  olden  times. 

His  education  was  limited  to  what  was  acquired  at  the  common 
school  and  academy  in  Vermont,  prior  to  the  age  of  sixteen.  From 
that  time  until  the  year  1832  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school  and 
studying  the  profession  of  law.  In  1832  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
at  Adams,  New  York.  He  came  to  Rockford,  Illinois,  October, 
1839,  where  he  remained  until  he  entered  the  army. 

The  military  life  of  Colonel  Marsh  commenced  with  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  74th.  At  Camp  Fuller  he  had  command  from  August 
9th,  between  which  and  September  4th,  there  were  organized  there 
four  regiments,  viz :  the  74th,  92d,  95th  and  96th.  Colonel  Marsh 
left  Rockford  with  his  regiment  for  active  service  on  the  28th  of 
September,  1862,  and  participated  with  it  in  all  its  skirmishes  and 
battles  until  after  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  at  which  time  he  was 
severely  wounded.  He  remained  in  camp  at  Chattanooga  until  the 
6th  of  December,  when  he  left  for  home,  in  company  with  several 
wounded  officers  and  privates  of  his  regiment.  Enjoying  the  bene 
fits  of  good  medical  treatment,  aided  by  his  vigorous  constitution, 
he  rapidly  recovered  his  health  and  rejoined  his  gallant  regiment 
hoping  to  continue  with  them  through  the  war.  In  this  he  was  dis 
appointed.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  resigned  his  position  as  Colonel 
of  the  regiment,  owing  to  feeble  health,  and  returned  to  his  home. 

Major  Elis  Casper  was  born  in  East  Union,  Wayne  county,  Ohio, 
March,  1824.  He  removed  with  his  family  to  Chicago,  Illinois,  in 

26 


402  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS.  , 

1851.  Here  lie  remained  until  1854,  when  he  left  that  city  for  Rock- 
ford,  Illinois,  which  was  his  residence  until  he  entered  the  army. 
In  the  fall  of  1862,  he,  with  Mr.  James  B.  Kerr,  enlisted  a  company 
for  the  war.  At  the  organization  of  the  74th  regiment,  Illinois  vol 
unteer  infantry,  Mr.  Casper  was  elected  1st  Lieutenant,  and  the 
same  day  (September  4,  1862,)  upon  the  election  of  Captain  Kerr  to 
Lieut-Colonel,  he  was  promoted  to  Captain  of  Company  E.  Soon 
after  the  regiment  left  Rockford,  Capt.  Casper  was  appointed  Provost 
Marshall,  and  held  that  position  until  November,  1864,  when  he  re 
ceived  the  appointment  of  Paymaster.  This  office  he  filled  with 
credit  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  the  government. 

THE  SEVENTY-FIFTH  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

On  the  2d  of  September,  1862,  the  75th  Regiment  Illinois  Volun 
teers  was  organized  and  mustered  into  service  by  Adjutant- General 
Fuller. 

ORIGINAL  ROSTER. 

Colonel,  George  Ryan;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  John  E.  Bennett;  Major,  William  M. 
Kilgour;  Adjutant,  Jerome  W.  Hollenbeck ;  Quartermaster,  John  E.  Remington; 
Surgeon,  George  W.  Phillips;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  John  C.  Corbus;  2d  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Henry  Utley ;  Chaplain,  William  H.  Smith. 

Co.  A — Captain,  James  A.  Watson;  1st  Lieutenant,  Ezekiel  Giles;  2d  Lieutenant, 
William  Parker,  jr. 

Co.  B — Captain,  John  Whallon ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Albert  M.  Gillett ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  James  Blean. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Ernst  Altman ;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  R.  Shaw  ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Prentiss  S.  Bannister. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Andrew  McMoore ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Joseph  E.  Colby;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Edward  H.  Barlow. 

Co.  E — Captain,  William  S.  Frost;  1st  Lieutenant,  Franklin  H.  Eels;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  James  H.  Blodgett. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Addison  S.  Vorrey;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  Tourtillott;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Dennis  Hannifin. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Joseph  Williams ;  1st  Lieutenant,  David  Sanford;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Robert  L.  Irvine. 

Co.  H— Captain,  John  G.  Price ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Joseph  W.  R.  Stanbaugh ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Abner  R.  Hurless. 

Co.  I— Captain,  Robert  Hale  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Joel  A.  Fife ;  2d  Lieutenant,  Eze 
kiel  Kilgour. 


THE    SEVENTY-FIFTH.  403 

Co.  K — Captain,  David  M.  Roberts;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  H.  Thompson;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Isaac  L.  Hunt. 

Having  received  its  outfit  of  clothing  and  arras,  the  regiment  left 
Camp  Dixon  September  27th,  to  report  at  Louisville,  Ky.  Arrived 
at  Jeffersonville  the  29th,  crossed  the  Ohio  the  next  evening  in 
company  with  the  74th  regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  preparatory  to 
the  forward  movement  the  next  morning  (October  21st)  under  Gen. 
Buell.  It  was  their  fate  to  be  thrown  into  the  action  of  Perry  villc 
late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  ever  memorable  8th  of  October,  only 
eleven  days  from  home.  The  arms  had  been  distributed  to  the  reg 
iment  only  the  evening  before  leaving  Camp  Dixon,  and  the  men 
had  never  been  drilled  in  their  use,  and  several  were  found  in  the 
ranks  who  had  never  loaded  and  fired  a  gun,  until  that  hour,  in  the 
presence  of  the  foe !  Colonel  George  Ryan,  the  commander  of  the 
regiment,  having  been  ordered  under  arrest,  the  command  devolved 
upon  Colonel  Bennett,  who,  with  Major  Kilgour,  who  had  seen 
service  in  the  13th  regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  Captain  Hale, 
of  Co.  I,  of  the  old  12th  regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  led  them 
promptly  and  gallantly  into  action ! 

Just  previous  to  the  movement  the  74th  Illinois,  Colonel  Marsh, 
was  ordered  to  another  part  of  the  field.  In  the  absence  of  Colonel 
Post,  of  the  59th  Illinois,  Brigade  commander,  that  dnty  fell  upon 
Colonel  Gooding,  of  the  22d  Indiana.  In  the  midst  of  the  action  he 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  a  prisoner,  which  left  the  command 
to  Colonel  Bennett.  These  explanations  and  facts  are  justly  due  to 
all  parties  in  this  connection,  as  they  throw  some  light  upon  the  re 
sults  of  that  terrible  scene.  The  75th  regiment  left  forty-three 
dead  on  the  field,  nine  mortally  wounded,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dis 
abled  and  twelve  prisoners. 

Here  was  a  regiment  entering  a  fight  for  the  first  time,  deployed 
under  a  galling  fire,  exposed  front  and  flank  to  a  force  largely  out 
numbering  its  own,  and  yet  persistently  maintaining  its  ground 
for  an  hour  and  a  half !  Veterans  could  do  no  more  !  Said  a  pris- 
one  of  the  enemy  who  fought  opposite,  "  We  would  have  whipped 
you  had  it  not  been  for  them  regulars" — meaning  the  75th  in  their 
comparatively  new  suits  of  blue.  That  experienced  officers  might 
iiave  acted  differently  in  that  trying  hour,  should  cast  no  blame  upon 


4:04  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

those  whose  duty  it  was  to  maintain  the  conflict  at  that  point.  The 
blame,  if  any,  rests  upon  whoever  allowed  them  to  remain  unsup 
ported  in  that  exposed  condition  for  that  hour  and  a  half  of  carnage. 
Such  was  the  undaunted  courage  of  the  men  that  they  could  not 
be  persuaded  to  fall  back,  until  the  orders  had  been  several  times  re 
peated. 

Major  (now  Lieut.-Col.)  Kilgour  was  severely  wounded  and  re 
moved  from  the  field,  as  were  three  Captains  and  four  Lieutenants, 
and  two,  viz.,  Lieut.  Blean,  of  B,  and  Lieut.  Eels,  of  E,  were  killed. 
The  regiment  lost  heavily  and  its  dead  sleep  in  graves  of  heroes ! 

Colonel  Ryan,  a  surgeon  by  profession,  did  efficient  service  in 
caring  for  the  wounded  during  and  after  the  fight.  The  next  day  at 
the  personal  solicitation  of  Colonel  Bennett,  his  sword  was  restored 
to  him  and  with  it  the  command  of  the  regiment.  He  was  subse 
quently  tried  by  court  martial  for  his  alleged  offense,  and  honorably 
acquitted!  The  service  proving  too  severe  for  his  health  he  re 
signed  in  consequence,  and  December  20,  1862,  Colonel  Bennett 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  regiment. 

But  the  regiment  was  now  reduced  to  about  half  its  numbers  by 
disease  and  battle.  More  than  a  hundred  were  sent  to  the  hospital 
from  Camp  Edgefield,  opposite  Nashville,  Tenn.,  within  a  week  of 
the  termination  of  the  march  from  Crab  Orchard,  Ky.,  via  Danville 
and  Bowling  Green  to  that  place,  of  whom  the  larger  part  never 
returned  to  permanent  duty  in  the  regiment. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  army  of  the  Ohio  under  General 
Rosecrans,  the  old  30th  brigade,  consisting  of  the  22d  Indiana,  74th, 
75th  and  59th  Illinois  (old  8th  Missouri)  and  the  5th  Wisconsin  bat 
tery,  Captain  Pinney,  was  assigned  to  be  the  1st  Brigade  of  the  1st 
Division  of  the  right  wing  under  Major-General  McD.  Me  Cook, 
with  Brig.-Gen.  J.  C.  Davis  as  division,  and  Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post 
as  brigade  commanders,  Avhich  organization  was  retained  in  the  20th 
Army  Corps  from  after  the  battle  of  Stone  River  until  after  the  bat 
tle  of  Chickamauga. 

In  the  skirmish  and  battles  of  Nolansville,  Knob  Gap,  and  Stone 
River  the  regiment  displayed  that  efficiency  which  Colonel  Bennett's 
thorough  discipline  had  given  it.  Forced  steadily  back  with  the 
right  whig  all  that  terrible  Wednesday  morning  of  the  closing 


COL.    JOHN    E.    BENNETT.  405 

hours  of  1862,  it  rallied  under  his  supervision  for  the  closing  up  ot 
the  new  battle-line,  and  was  ready  to  hurl  its  remaining  strength 
upon  the  exasperated  foe  the  Friday  following.  Recovering  its  full 
tone  of  health  and  spirits  after  this  depressing  campaign,  its  noble 
deeds  have  written  its  name  among  the  foremost  on  the  scout  or 
march,  or  in  the  hour  of  conflict.  We  find  the  regiment  next  at 
Liberty  Gap,  June  25,  1863,  and  following  across  the  Tennessee 
over  the  mountains  to  Chickamauga,  on  the  20th  of  September  along 
the  valley  road  to  Chattanooga,  and  to  the  front  lines  on  the  22d. 
Thence  across  the  river,  over  Waldron's  Ridge,  recrossing  the  Ten 
nessee  and  in  camp  at  Whitesides,  ready  to  lead  the  charge  on 
"Lookout"  under  Hooker  November  24th,  pressing  on  to  Rossville, 
over  Mission  Ridge  to  Ringgold,  thence  back  to  camp  for  a  respite, 
after  burying  the  neglected  dead  of  bloody  Chickamauga.  As 
signed  position  as  a  part  of  3d  Brigade,  1st  Division,  4th  Army 
Corps,  marched  to  Camp  Blue  Springs,  Tenn.,  by  February  1,  1864, 
sharing  the  reconnoissance  in  force  to  Buzzard's  Roost,  in  Rocky 
Face  Valley  near  Dalton  on  the  24th  and  25th  of  the  same  month ; 
returning  to  camp  to  await  the  final  "  on  to  Atlanta"  under  Sher 
man  commencing  May  1,  1864,  sealing  with  their  best  blood  their 
bright  record  on  the  fields  of  Dalton,  Resaca,  Marietta  and  At 
lanta,  where  Colonel  Bennett  and  the  remnant  of  the  gallant  75th 
Illinois  waited  orders  to  move  with  the  resistless  legions  of  Sherman 
through  the  strongholds  of  the  rebellion. 

Col.  John  E.  Bennett  was  born  in  the  town  of  Bethany,  Genesee 
county,  New  York,  March  18,  1833.  During  his  earlier  years  he 
spent  his  time  in  the  common  school  of  his  neighborhood.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  he  was  sent  to  the  Genesee  Wesleyan  Seminary, 
located  in  Lima,  Livingston  county,  New  York,  where  he  remained 
three  sessions. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  commenced  teaching  school.  The  health 
of  his  father  failing  at  this  time,  he  was  put  in  charge  of  his  busi 
ness,  which  he  continued  to  manage  with  uncommon  ability  for  one 
so  young  in  years,  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  In  addition, 
during  the  winter  months  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  school. 

In  the  spring  of  1854,  he  received  an  invitation  from  Mr.  E.  J. 
Baldwin,  a  merchant  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  to  become  his  cashier  and 


4:06  PATRIOTISM  OF    ILLINOIS. 

book-keeper.  This  situation  he  accepted,  and  remained  with  him 
about  a  year  and  a  half.  Wishing  to  engage  in  business  on  Ins  o\vn 
responsibility,  he  made  a  tour  westward,  seeking  a  suitable  locality 
for  that  purpose.  Through  the  instrumentality  of  Wm.  IT.  Van  Epps, 
Esq.,  a  prominent  merchant  and  citizen  of  Dixon,  Lee  county,  Illi 
nois,  he  located  in  Morrison,  Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  then  only  an 
embryo  town,  consisting  of  one  house  and  a  few  railroad  shanties, 
now  the  county  seat  of  that  county.  During  his  residence  in  Mor 
rison,  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  a  merchant,  and  the  proprietor 
of  the  Bennett  House.  He  made  several  trips  across  the  plains  to 
the  Pacific  coast;  in  the  meantime,  however,  retaining  his  business 
in  Morrison. 

In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat  of  the  Jefferson,  Jackson  and 
Douglas  school.  When  it  became  evident  that  military  measures 
must  be  taken  to  crush  this  rebellion,  his  patriotism  would  not  per 
mit  of  his  remaining  an  idle  spectator  of  the  scenes  about  to  trans 
pire.  He  was  among  the  first  to  advocate  the  enlistment  of  troops 
and  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war.  He  immediately  set  to  work 
arranging  his  affairs  so  that  he  might  become  an  active  participant 
in  the  bloody  strife.  He  applied  to  Adjutant-General  Fuller  for 
permission  to  raise  a  company.  On  the  29th  of  July,  1862,  the  per 
mission  came,  and  August  5, 1862,  he  had  enlisted  a  company  of  one 
hundred  and  eighteen  men.  He  was  unanimously  elected  captain.. 
and  went  with  his  company  to  Dixon,  being  the  first  company  in 
rendezvous  at  that  camp. 

At  the  organization  of  the  75th  regiment,  Col.  Bennett  was  elected 
Lieutenant-Colonel.  On  the  resignation  of  Col.  Ryan,  December 
20,  1862,  Col.  Bennett  succeeded  him  in  command  of  the  regiment. 
In  the  battle  of  Perryville  Col.  Bennett's  horse  was  shot,  but  lie  kept 
his  post  to  the  last.  He  was  never  absent  from  the  regiment,  save  n 
few  days  sickness  while  at  Valley  Head,  and  ever  shared  with  it  all 
its  duties,  greatly  endearing  himself  to  his  command.  The  record 
of  his  personal  service  with  the  75th  Illinois  volunteers  is  upon 
nearly  every  battle-field  of  the  department  of  the  Cumberland. 

THE  TWENTY-SIXTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 
The  following  is  the  original  roster  of  the  regiment: 


THE    TWENTY-SIXTH.  407 

Colonel,  John  M.  Loomis  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Charles  J.  Tinkhara  ;  Major,  Robert 
A.  Gilmore ;  Adjutant,  Samuel  A.  Buckmaster,  jr.;  Quartermaster,  Charles  A. 
Nazra;  Surgeon,  Morse  K.  Taylor;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  Ezra  A.  Stecle ;  2d  Assist, 
ant  Surgeon,  Charles  Woodard;  Chaplain,  Andrew  B.  Morrison. 

Co.  A — Captain,  John  J.  Funkhouser;  1st  Lieutenant,  Sidney  A.  Newcomb;  2d 
Lieutenant,  David  P.  Murphy. 

Co.  B — Captain,  James  P.  Davis  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  H.  Reed ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
William  Polk. 

Co.  C — Captain,  George U.  Keener;  1st  Lieutenant,  Thomas  L.  Vest;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  James  A.  Dugger. 

Co.  D — Captain,  John  B.  Harris;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  W.  Foutch;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  George  W.  Kerlin. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Amos  F.  Jaquis  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Azro  C.  Putnam  ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  John  S.  Lathrop. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Charles  J.  Tinkham;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  H.  Kuapp;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Samuel  M.  Custer. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Thaddeus  S.  Updegraff;  1st  Lieutenant,  Bernard  Flynn ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Joseph  C.  Baldwin. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Andrew  B.  Morrison;  1st  Lieutenant,  Washington  W.  Woollard  ; 
2d  Lieutenant,  Charles  F.  Wertz. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Washington  C.  Cassell ;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  Archer ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  W.  Kelly. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Ira  J.  Bloomfield;  1st  Lieutenant,  Allen  H.  Dillon;  2d  Lieu- 
tenan,  John  B.  Bruner. 

The  Twenty- sixth  Regiment  was  enlisted  during  the  summer  of 
1861,  from  the  counties  of  Effingham,  Stevenson,  Lasalle,  McLean, 
Sangamon,  Champaign,  and  one  company  at  large,  so  that  it  rep 
resented  every  portion  of  Illinois.  In  August  1861,  seven  com 
panies  that  were  at  that  time  organized,  were  hurried  off  to  the  de 
fence  of  Quincy,  which  was  then  threatened  with  an  attack  from 
Price,  Green  and  their  followers.  They  had  no  arms,  no  clothes, 
no  blankets,  and  went  forth  to  meet  the  foe.  The  remaining  three 
companies  recruited  under  the  most  discouraging  auspices,  and  only 
by  the  most  strenuous  personal  exertions,  did  not  join  the  command 
until  January  1862,  up  to  which  time  a  dreary  fall  and  winter  was 
spent  guarding  the  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  Railroad,  fighting 
bushwhackers,  and  kindred  occupations. 

Finally,  Major-General  Halleck,  after  much  solicitation,  relieved 
it  from  this  onerous  task,  and  in  February,  1862,  the  regiment, 
nine  hundred  and  three  men  and  officers,  left  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  for 


408  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

the  field  of  General  Pope's  operations.  From  that  date,  their 
career  was  one  of  the  most  active  in  service  and  of  the  most  reput 
able  kind. 

New  Madrid,  Island  No.  Ten.,  Farmington,  Siege  of  Corinth, 
luka,  Corinth  October  3d  and  4th,  Siege  of  Vicksburg,  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  Tunnel  Hill  and  Chattanooga,  these  are  the  names  which 
by  special  order  of  General  Grant,  illumine  their  banners  and  tell 
their  story  more  eloquently  than  tongue  or  pen.  A  writer  in  one  of 
the  local  papers  thus  speaks  of  the  Twenty-sixth : 

"  The  characteristic  of  the  regiment  is  not  dash — it  is  not  the  elan 
of  the  Zouave,  nor  the  fiery  enthusiasm  which  sometimes  answers 
as  well  as  a  more  sterling  and  enduring  courage,  but  it  is  an  intrepid 
ity,  cool,  disciplined  and  tenacious.  It  was  this  quality  which  held 
them  nine  long  days  in  the  trenches  at  Tiptonville,  in  mud  and  water 
in  midwinter,  exposed  to  rebel  sharpshooters,  and  themselves  unable 
to  return  a  shot ;  it  was  this  that  held  them  nine  longer  hours  under 
the  converging  fire  of  eighteen  heavy  Napoleon  and  Parrott  guns, 
and  musketry  and  sharpshooters  innumerable,  at  Tunnel  Hill,  until 
Sherman,  the  war-worn  'regular,'  with  all  his  West  Point  predilec 
tions  thick  upon  him,  declared  they  were  worthy  to  fight  with  his  old 
Thirteenth ;  and  it  was  this  that  led  them,  toil-worn  and  battle-scarred, 
barefooted  and  ragged  from  the  unprecedented  march  to  the  relief 
of  Burnside,  to  take  the  initiative  in  their  corps  in  the  work  of  re- 
enlisting — spreading  such  a  wildfire  of  enthusiasm,  that  in  one  entire 
division  (General  Ewing's)  there  were  not  more  than  fifty  men  eligi 
ble  for  the  veteran  service  who  did  not  re-enlist,  and  of  these  fifty, 
a  large  majority  entered  the  Invalid  Corps." 

COLONEL  JOHN  MASON  LOOMIS  was  born  in  Windsor,  Connecticut. 
At  the  early  age  of  eighteen,  he  was  elected  captain  of  the  company 
of  militia  which  held  their  annual  "  trainings  "  in  his  native  place, 
so  that  he  took  with  him  into  the  field  no  mean  military  reputation. 
He  was  captain  of  a  clipper  in  the  East  India  trade,  and  coming 
West  in  one  of  the  intervals  of  his  occupation,  he  decided  to  locate 
in  Milwaukee,  and  in  1844  he  entered  into  the  lumber  business  in 
that  city. 

He  removed  to  Chicago  in  1853,  and  was  soon  at  the  head  of  one 
of  the  largest  lumber  firms  in  the  Northwest.  His  connection  with 


THE    SIXTIETH.  409 

the  old  "Light  Guard"  was  but  the  preparation  for  the  sterner 
drama  in  which  he  bore  such  a  glorious  part,  and  the  remaining 
members  of  the  "  Guard"  could  not  but  recognize  the  glory  he  shed 
upon  the  old  company. 

In  speaking  of  this  gallant  officer,  the  Chicago  Tribune  says: 
"  The  same  rigidity  of  discipline,  the  same  enthusiastic  devotion 
to  everything  which  becomes  his  duty,  no  matter  how  trifling  the 
detail,  how  exacting  the  observance,  which  marked  him  as  a  train 
band  captain,  but  when  in  the  army,  infused  with  a  living,  earnest 
patriotism,  and  combined  with  an  almost  paternal  care  and  interest 
in  his  men,  a  personal  bravery  which  knows  no  fear,  a  coolness  and 
fertility  of  resource  in  danger  and  emergency,  characterized  him  as 
one  of  our  most  successful  brigade  commanders." 

Col.  Loomis  has  greatly  distinguished  himself  in  subsequent 
engagements,  not  now  to  be  described  in  detail.  His  bravery  as  a 
soldier,  and  his  skill  as  a  commander,  have  been  fully  demonstrated. 

SIXTIETH  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

The  following  is  the  roster  of  the  regiment : 

Colonel,  Silas  C.  Toler ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Wm.  B.  Anderson ;  Major,  Samuel 
Hess;  Adjutant,  Thomas  G.  Barnes ;  Quartermaster,  Cloyd  Crouch  ;  Surgeon,  Jo 
seph  T.  Miller;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  Ford  S.  Doods;  2d  Assistant  Surgeon,  John 
A.  Sheriff;  Chaplain,  Levi  S.  Walker. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Francis  M.  Davidson;  1st  Lieutenant,  Wm.  E.  Short;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Jerome  M.  Ingram. 

Co.  B — Captain,  James  H.  McDonald;  1st  Lieutenant,  Isaac  S.  Boswell;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  DeWitt  Anderson. 

Co.  C — Captain,  John  R.  Moss;  1st  Lieutenant,  Thomas  J.  Rhodes;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Mark  Hailes. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Alfred  Davis ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edmund  D.  Choisser  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  James  Stull. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Geo.  W.  Evans ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Hamilton  Wiggs  ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Wm.  Baker. 

Co.  F — Captain,  William  May;  1st  Lieutenant,  Gallatin  A.  Wood;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Robert  B.  Stinson. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Andrew  J.  Alden ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Jehu  J.  Maxey;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Wm.  H.  Campbell. 

Co.  H— Captain,  David  Ragains  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Joseph  F.  McKee ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  John  S.  Cochcnnour. 


4:10  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

Co.  I — Captain,  John  Frizell;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  Gibson;  2d  Lieutenant,  E.  W. 
Hulbert. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Wm.  C.  Goddard  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  M.  Benson;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Wm.  E.  Goddard. 

It  was  mustered  into  service  on  the  17th  day  of  February,  1862, 
by  Captain  Watson,  at  Camp  Dubois,  Anna,  Illinois,  and  numbered 
eight  hundred  and  ninety-four  men,  rank  and  file. 

On  the  24th  day  of  February,  1862,  it  left  camp  under  orders  to 
report  to  Brigadier-General  E.  A.  Paine,  at  Cairo,  III,  where  it 
remained  until  the  14th  day  of  March,  when  it  was  ordered  by  Brig 
adier-General  Strong  to  move  to  Island  No.  10,  and  on  its  arrival 
there  it  received  orders  to  report  at  Columbus,  Ky.  It  remained  at 
Columbus  seven  days,  when  orders  came  to  move  to  Hickman,  Ky., 
and  after  a  stay  of  five  days  there  it  was  ordered  to  return  to 
Cairo,  where  it  remained  until  the  6th  of  May,  doing  garrison  and 
heavy  fatigue  duty,  (except  Companies  E  and  K,  which  were  on  de 
tached  service  at  Bird's  Point  and  Mound  City.)  On  the  6th  of 
May  the  eight  companies  in  garrison  at  Cairo  were  ordered  by 
General  Strong,  commanding  post,  to  report  to  Colonel  ISToble,  at 
Paducah,  Ky.,  and  on  the  day  following  the  other  two  companies 
were  ordered  to  report  to  the  regiment  at  Paducah,  Ky.  On  the 
9th  of  May,  by  order  of  Brig.- Gen.  Strong,  the  regiment  went  on 
board  the  steamer  Gladiator  to  report  to  Major- General  Halleck,  at 
Hamburg  Landing,  Tenn.,  which  it  did  on  the  12th  of  May,  and 
was  assigned  to  General  Paine's  command,  1st  division,  2d  brigade, 
Army  of  the  Mississippi.  The  brigade  was  composed  of  the  fol 
lowing  regiments,  10th,  16th  and  60th  Illinois,  10th  and  14th  Mich 
igan  regiments,  and  Captain  Houghtaling's  battery,  Gen.  James  D. 
Morgan,  brigade  commander. 

On  the  19th  of  May,  at  Farmington,  Missouri,  this  regiment  was 
detached  from  the  brigade  to  support  Captain  Pile's  battery,  where 
it  remained  until  the  evacuation  of  Corinth,  Miss.,  when  it  re 
joined  the  brigade,  and  went  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  following 
them  five  miles  south  of  Booneville,  Miss.,  when  the  chase  was 
given  up  and  they  returned  to  Booneville.  Remained  there  a  few 
days,  then  broke  up  camp  and  moved  within  five  miles  of  Corinth, 
and  went  into  camp  at  Big  Springs,  Miss.,  where  it  remained  until 


THE    SIXTIETH.  411 

the  21st  of  July,  when  it  marched  for  Tuseumbia,  Ala.,  a  distance  of 
seventy-five  miles,  through  a  beautiful  country,  arriving  at  the  latter 
place  on  the  26th.  It  there  went  into  camp  and  remained  until  the 
28th  of  August,  when  under  command  of  Brigadier-General  James 
D.  Morgan,  the  entire  brigade  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  and 
bivouacked  in  the  woods  near  Florence,  Ala. 

On  the  morning  of  Sept.  2d,  they  repacked  their  knapsacks,  and 
took  up  their  line  of  march  for  Nashville,  Tenri.,  by  way  of  Athens, 
Ala.,  and  arrived  at  Nashville  on  the  12th  of  September,  having 
marched  a  distance  of  175  miles,  averaging  27  miles  per  day,  and 
suffering  greatly  from  the  scarcity  of  water.  The  last  100  miles 
they  were  constantly  menaced  by  rebel  cavalry  and  guerrillas  ;  and, 
although  fired  upon  at  different  places  along  the  road,  they  met  with 
no  serious  loss.  They  encamped  in  the  city  of  Nashville,  and 
assisted  in  garrisoning  the  city,  frequently  scouting  through  the 
country,  having  several  skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  in  which  they 
always  proved  victorious. 

On  the  morning  of  Nov.  5,  18G2,  the  rebel  Gen.  Morgan,  with  a 
cavalry  force  of  3,800  men,  made  a  dash  on  Edgefield,  Tenn.,  but 
was  quickly  repulsed  by  the  16th  and  60th  Illinois  regiments,  then 
stationed  at  that  place.  In  the  early  part  of  November,  the  1st 
division,  army  of  the  Mississippi,  to  which  the  regiment  belonged, 
was  transferred  to  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  on  the  12th  of 
that  month  they  moved  to  Stone  River,  Tenn.  On  the  29th,  the 
regiment,  with  the  10th  Michigan,  went  on  a  three  days'  scout,  and 
returned  to  camp  with  fourteen  prisoners.  On  the  12th  of  Decem 
ber  it  went  back  to  Nashville. 

On  the  5th  of  January,  1863,  it  was  sent  to  Stone  River,  as  escort 
to  a  large  ammunition  train  for  the  army  of  the  Cumberland. 
When  eight  miles  from  Nashville,  the  train  was  furiously  attacked 
by  a  rebel  force  under  Wheeler,  consisting  of  two  brigades  of  cav 
alry  and  six  pieces  of  artillery.  A  lively  skirmish  ensued,  resulting 
in  the  defeat  of  the  enemy,  who  retreated  in  double  quick,  leaving 
several  of  their  dead.  They  captured  two  officers  and  twelve 
privates,  and  lost  but  one  man  wounded. 

On  January  13th,  the  regiment  was  sent  after  a  body  of  rebel 
cavalry,  to  prevent  their  burning  the  transports  on  the  shoals  below 


412  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Nashville.  It  was  out  three  days,  marching  a  distance  of  sixty- 
five  miles,  and  capturing  thirteen  prisoners.  They  were  transferred 
to  the  Reserve  Army  Corps  Department  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
engaged  in  doing  garrison  duty  in  the  city  of  Nashville  unti]  June 
20,  1863. 

The  60th  took  an  active  part  in  the  battle  of  Chattanooga, 
November  25th  and  26th.  It  was  in  the  advance  upon  Cliicka- 
mauga,  and  pursued  the  enemy  to  Ringold,  continually  skirmishing 
with  them  until  they  reached  the  latter  place.  They  accompanied 
the  grand  army  of  General  Sherman  in  the  terrible  march  to  Knox- 
ville  preparatory  to  the  raising  the  siege  of  that  place. 

Col.  William  B.  Anderson  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Illinois, 
April  2,  1730.  His  father,  Stinson  H.  Anderson,  served  in  the  State 
Legislature,  was  Lieutenant-Governor  under  Governor  Carlin,  and 
also  State  Marshall  during  Folk's  administration.  He  served  as  a 
private  in  the  Blackhawk  war,  and  was  commissioned  captain  of 
dragoons  by  Jackson  during  the  Florida  war.  His  early  education 
was  unfortunately  neglected.  He  studied  law  a  short  time  with 
Judge  Walter  B.  Scates,  who  was  then  a  member  of  the  Supreme 
bench  of  Illinois.  He  served  as  county  surveyor  for  Jefferson 
county  for  four  years,  and  soon  after  was  elected  member  of  the 
State  Legislature,  and  served  during  the  session  of  ISSG-'SY,  and 
being  re-elected,  served  again  during  the  next  session  of  185S-'59. 
In  1860  he  was  appointed  alternate  elector  on  the  Douglas  ticket,  and 
here  ended  his  political  life. 

Upon  the  commencement  of  the  present  war,  he  entered  the  ser 
vice  of  his  country.  He  raised  a  company  of  recruits  from  his 
native  county,  and,  with  the  required  number,  hastening  to  the  place 
of  rendezvous  of  the  60th  Illinois  regiment,  Camp  Dubois,  Anna, 
Illinois,  his  company  was  assigned  a  place  in  this  regiment,  and 
Mr.  Anderson  mustered  into  the  service  as  Lieutenant-Colonel 
on  the  17th  of  February.  He  served  in  that  capacity  until  March 
2,  1863,  when  he  was  promoted  and  took  his  place  as  Colonel  of  the 
regiment. 

SEVENTY-THIRD  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  YOLUNTEERS 

The  73d  regiment  Illinois  volunteers  was  raised  from  the  State  at, 
large,  and  was  the  first  of  the  new  organizations  under  the  call  for 


THE    SEVENTY-THIRU. 

>3»00,000,  in  the  year  1862.  It  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  111., 
and  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  three  years  or  during 
the  war,  August  21,  1862,  under  the  following  officers,  viz. : 

Colonel,  James  F.  Jaquess ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Benjamin  F.  Northcutt ;  Major, 
William  A.  Presson;  Adjutant,  Richard  R.  Randall;  Quartermaster,  James  W. 
Slavens ;  Surgeon,  George  0.  Pond ;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  Robert  E.  Stevenson ; 
2d  Assistant  Surgeon,  Kendall  E.  Rich ;  Chaplain,  John  S.  Barger. 

Co.  A— Captain,  William  E.  Smith ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edward  W.  Bennett ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Thomas  G.  Underwood. 

Co.  B— Captain,  Wilder  B.  M.  Colt ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Harvey  Pratt ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Samuel  W.  McCormack. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Peterson  McNabb ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Mark  D.  Haws ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Richard  N.  Davis. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Thomas  Motherspaw;  1st  Lieutenant,  Jonas  Jones;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Reuben  B.  Winchester. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Wilson  Burroughs ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  Tilton  ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  David  Blosser. 

Co.  F — Captain,  George  Montgomery ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  Barrick ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Edwin  Allsop. 

Co.  G — Captain,  John  Sutton ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  F.  Bowen ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Uriah  Warrington. 

Co.  H — Captain,  James  J.  Davidson  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Samson  Purcell ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Clement  S.  Shinn. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Peter  Wallace ;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  L.  Barger  ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
James  M.  Turpin. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Reuben  W.  Laughlin ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  Lancaster  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  . 

The  regiment  thus  organized  left  for  Louisville,  Ry.,  on  the  morn 
ing  of  August  26th,  and  reached  its  destination  at  noon  on  the  fol 
lowing  day,  and  went  into  its  first  camp  near  the  Louisville  and 
Nashville  depot,  called  Camp  Jaquess,  in  honor  of  the  Colonel. 

It  remained  in  this  camp  a  few  days,  when  it  was  removed  to  a 
new  camp — "  Dick  Yates" — near  the  Lexington  turnpike,  eight  miles 
east  of  Louisville,  and  was  temporarily  brigaded  with  the  *79th  and 
88th  Indiana  regiments  and  the  100th  Illinois,  Gen.  Kirk  in  command. 
The  73d,  however,  was  soon  detached  and  sent  to  Cincinnati  when 
that  city  was  threatened  by  Bragg's  army,  where  it  reported  for 
duty  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  September;  was  ordered  to  Louis 
ville  again,  to  meet  Bragg  at  that  point,  and  was  brigaded  with  the 


414:  PATBIOTISM    OF 

2d  Missouri,  loth  Missouri  and  44th  Illinois,  commanded  by  Col 
Schaefer  of  the  2d  Missouri. 

With  this  brigade  the  73d  started  on  the  famous  march  in  pursuit 
of  Bragg  and  his  retreating  forces.  During  this  campaign  the 
troops  engaged  in  it  did  severe  marching,  both  by  day  and  night,  and 
many  of  the  new  soldiers  were  unequal  to  the  fatigue,  The  73d 
being  composed  principally  of  men  innurcd  to  toil,  stood  the  test 
as  well  as  any  of  their  compatriots.  Early  on  the  morning  of 
October  12th — one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  Indian  Summer  days — 
the  firing  of  musketry  near  Perryville,  Kentucky,  indicated  an 
enemy  at  hand,  and  by  noon  the  left  was  in  the  heat  of  battle.  The 
right,  under  Sheridan,  was  placed  in  position  to  await  the  attack  of 
the  rebels.  The  35th  brigade  stood  awaiting  the  shock  with' the 
73d  Illinois,  and  the  15th  was  in  front,  supported  by  the  44th  Illinois 
and  2d  Missouri  in  the  rear. 

During  the  interval,  while  the  enemy  was  approaching,  the  fol 
lowing  disposition  was  made  of  the  73d  Illinois :  Every  man  was 
ordered  to  lie  down  and  conceal  himself  as  perfectly  as  possible. 
The  position  was  a  good  one,  on  the  top  of  a  ridge  overlooking  an 
open  field  over  which  the  enemy  must  pass.  The  colors  were  rolled 
up  and  the  men  ordered  to  lie  upon  the  ground,  to  Avhich  they  con 
sented  most  unwillingly.  The  Colonel  ordered  them  to  protect  them 
selves  and  obey  orders  and  he  would  protect  their  reputation.  "  The 
enemy  is  approaching,"  continued  the  Colonel,  "  wait  till  I  give  you 
the  order  to  fire.  Be  calm  and  deliberate  and  waste  no  ammunition  ; 
remember  that  one  load  in  your  gun  is  worth  ten  in  the  air.  Load 
quick  and  fire  slow,  and  be  sure  and  bring  a  rebel  every  shot.  It  is 
•said  one  wounded  man  is  worth  two  dead  ones  on  the  battle  field. 
I  have  not  so  learned  war.  War  means  killing ;  therefore  let  every 
shot  be  well  directed — aim  at  the  head  or  the  heart  and  make  sure 
work  of  it.  Heady  !  aim  !  fire  !  /"  For  one  hour  and  thirty  minutes 
did  this  band  of  brave  young  soldiers  face  the  enemy.  "  The  ground 
in  front  of  the  regiment  was  strewn  with  the  dead,"  said  a  wounded 
officer  belonging  to  a  Mississippi  regiment — left  on  the  field  and 
captured.  "What  regiment  was  that  we  met  just  there?"  pointing 
to  where  the  73d  had  fought;  and  being  told  it  was  the  73d  Illinois, 
said  he,  "  Every  shot  you  fired  seemed  to  take  a  man  in  the  head 
or  heart." 


THE    SEVENTY-THIRD.  415 

"  During  tliis  fight  we  fired  no  less  than  forty  rounds,  and  some 
fired  as  many  as  sixty.  The  men  were  instructed  to  lay  their  extra 
supply  of  ammunition  on  the  ground  by  them,  and  there  was  no 
time  lost  in  using  it.  The  fire  from  the  enemy  was  terrible,  but  so 
well  protected  was  the  73d  that  only  one  man  was  killed,  and  he 
was  struck  in  the  head  while  in  the  act  of  rising  up  to  shoot." 

From  Perryville  to  Murfreesboro,  and  then  into  the  terrible  con 
flict  of  Stone  River  passed  the  73d.  It  Avas  in  Sheridan's  division 
and  met  the  shock  of  the  foe.  Already  was  Sheridan  winning  the 
laurels  which  were  to  brighten  in  the  Valley  of  the  Shenandoah. 
Says  the  correspondent  from  whom  we  have  quoted  above:  "The 
brigade,  of  which  the  73d  was  part,  occupied  the  right  of  Sher 
idan's  division,  and  the  73d  was  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  brig 
ade,  and  at  one  time  was  attacked  by  overwhelming  numbers  on 
the  right  flank,  and  changing  front  in  that  direction  and  in  a  grand 
charge  repulsed  the  enemy,  which  gave  them  their  first  check. 
These  facts  can  be  substantiated." 

After  long  inarches,  weary  days  and  nights  of  picket  and  guard 
duty,  foraging  and  skirmishing,  the  73d  appears  on  the  bloody  field 
of  Chickamauga.  It  was  now  in  the  2d  brigade,  3d  division,  20th 
army  corps,  Sheridan  division  commander,  and  McCook  corps  com 
mander.  "  The  brigade,  composed  of  the  same  regiments  as  before, 
2d  and  15th  Missouri,  44th  and  73d  Illinois,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Leibold,  of  the  2d  Missouri.  At  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of 
the  20th  of  September,  the  brigade  was  in  line  of  battle,  in  column 
of  regiments,  the  73d  Illinois  in  front.  The  brigade  was  held  as 
reserve  when  it  became  apparent  that  the  troops  on  the  right  and 
left  were  being  driven  back,  and  that  already  there  was  a  breach  in 
the  line  of  battle,  the  2d  brigade  was  ordered  to  advance  and  check 
the  enemy  in  that  direction.  The  charge  was  made,  but  it  proved 
a  slaughter  pen.  Major  Smith  and  Adjutant  Wingett  were  killed 
instantly,  Lieut.-Col.  Davidson  was  wounded,  and  Colonel  Jaquess' 
horse  was  struck  four  times,  and  he  was  the  only  field  officer  left, 
and  almost  the  only  officer  in  the  regiment.  The  regiment  went 
into  this  fight  three  hundred  and  eight  strong,  and  numbered  next 
day,  of  those  who  had  escaped  death  or  wounding,  less  than  one 
hundred." 


4:16  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

It  also  participated  brilliantly  in  the  battles  of  Mission  Ridge  and 
Lookout  Mountain  with  credit  to  its  former  reputation.  It  formed 
part  of  the  1st  brigade,  2d  division,  4th  army  corps.  In  the  charge 
up  Mission  Ridge  the  73d  was  in  the  advance.  Said  General  Sher 
idan,  as  the  grand  charge  was  commenced,  "  Go  in  73d,  you  will  do 
your  duty,  I  know!"  and  most  bravely  did  every  officer  and  man  in 
the  regiment  execute  the  command.  They  captured  more  prisoners 
than  there  were  men  in  the  regiment  in  the  three  successive  charges 
they  made  assaulting  the  enemies'  works." 

Says  our  correspondent:  "When  the  73d  Illinois  appeared  in 
the  field  it  was  called  the  '  Preachers'  Regiment,'  its  Colonel  and 
several  of  the  officers  being  ministers,  and  the  question  was  asked, 
'Will  such  men  fight?  Can  the  soldiers  be  relied  on,  and  will  they 
fight  under  such  commanders  ?'  The  world  has  yet  to  learn  that 
the  Christian  hero  is  God's  nobleman,  and  that  the  Christian  soldier 
knows  no  fear.  '  Will  the  preacher  regiment  fight  ?'  has  inquired 
more  than  one.  Go  to  the  records  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  Stone  River, 
Tenn.,  Chickamauga,  Ga«,  and  Mission  Ridge,  above  the  clouds, 
and  they  will  tell  you." 

Colonel  James  F.  Jaquess,  of  the  73d  regiment  Illinois  volunteer 
infantry,  was  born  in  the  state  of  Indiana,  November  18,  1819.  He 
is  a  graduate  of  the  Indiana  Asbury  University,  from  which  institu 
tion  he  has  received  the  degrees  of  A.  B.,  A.  M.  and  D.  D.  After 
his  graduation  he  entered  upon  the  study  of  law,  and  applied  him 
self  closely  for  two  years,  during  which  time  he  completed  the 
course  of  study  prescribed  in  Transylvania  University,  Lexington, 
Ky.,  and  when  about  to  enter  the  institution  with  a  view  to  gradua 
tion,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
In  1848  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Illinois  Female  College,  at 
Jacksonville,  111.,  and  served  in  that  position  for  seven  years.  His 
popularity  with  the  students  and  friends  and  patrons  of  the  college 
was  unbounded,  and  he  did  much  for  female  education. 

His  next  position  of  labor  was  that  of  President  of  Quincy  Col 
lege,  a  regularly  chartered  institution,  located  at  Quincy,  Illinois. 

Colonel  Jaquess'  connection  with  the  army  is  the  result  of  most 
earnest  solicitation  on  the  part  of  those  prominent  in  military  affairs. 
His  influence  among  the  masses  was  such  as  would  enable  him  to 


COLONEL    IN   DIXIE.  417 

render  efficient  service  in  the  cause.  He  entered  upon  the  work  of 
recruiting  a  regiment  on  the  1st  of  July,  and  reported  at  Camp  But 
ler  1st  of  August,  with  a  full  regiment,  and  was  soon  on  his  way  to 
the  field. 

When  it  was  known  that  he  was  about  to  enter  the  army  a  lady 
inquired  of  Governor  Yates  as  to  the  truth  of  the  rumor,  and  being 
informed  that  such  was  certainly  the  case,  said  she,  "Do  you  think 
Mr.  Jaquess  will  make  a  colonel  ?"  The  Governor  replied :  "  The 
best  colonel  in  the  United  States,"  Without  claiming  all  that,  it  is 
safe  to  say  there  have  been  few  better  ones. 

In  addition  to  leading  his  gallant  regiment  in  the  thickest  of  many 
a  hard-fought  fight,  Colonel  Jaquess  has  rendered  the  government 
important  service  not  now  to  be  made  public.  But  one  episode  de 
mands  publication,  and  the  more  so  as  it  has  been  given  to  the  pub 
lic  in  another  form.  It  was  no  less  than  a  visit  to  Jefferson  Davis, 
and  a  conversation  with  him  in  the  rebel  executive  chamber — a 
journey  undertaken  from  a  strong  sense  of  religious  duty.  The 
appended  account  appeared  in  a  weekly  newspaper,  and  the  author 
witnessed  its  "taking  down:" 

"A  rap  at  the  door  of  our  sanctum!  Enter — a  tall,  somewhat  slim  and  altogether 
impressive  form  in  the  uniform  of  a  Union  colonel. 

"Few  men  carry  more  character  in  their  faces  than  Colonel  Jaquess.  With  classic 
fcrehead,  large  blue  eyes,  so  deep  that,  as  Emerson  says,  'one  may  fall  into  them,' 
hair,  and  neatly  trimmed  beard,  both  wearing 

"  '  The  silver  livery  of  advised  age,' 

firm,  conscientious  and  dauntless — he  is  just  the  man  to  hurl  his  gauntlet  at  danger 
— fight  his  way  into,  or  become  a  self-appointed  embassador  at  Richmond.  Reluc 
tantly  he  told  us  his  story. 

"The  incidents  of  the  ride  to  the  city  and  the  formalities  which  resulted  in  an 
interview  between  Colonel  Jaquess,  Mr.  Gilmore,  President  Davis  and  Mr.  Benjamin 
are  already  recorded  by  Mr.  Gilmore.  Colonel  Jaquess  states  that  he  did  not  share 
Mr.  Gilmore's  fears  respecting  the  important  question  of  a  safe  deliverance  from 
the  rebel  capital. 

"The  evening  of  the  18th  finds  the  four  persons  above  mentioned  seated  in  a  room 
in  the  Confederate  State  Department.  After  the  formal  introduction,  it  was  fully 
agreed  upon  that  in  the  discussion  which  was  about  to  follow  no  personal  offense 
was  to  be  taken,  even  though  it  became  necessary  to  employ  plain  language — and 
Colonel  Jaquese  says  that  he  accepted  the  temporary  status  of  affairs,  and  studiously 
tnd  politely  employed  the  terms  *  Mr.  President'  afld  '  Confederacy.'  Mr.  Benja- 

21 


418  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

rain's  first  and  most  persistent  effort  was  to  secure  an  admission  that  the  embassy 
was  official,  and  after  laboring  thus  in  vain  for  thirty  minutes,  he  then  attempted  to 
brow-beat  the  Colonel  by  employing  the  term  'spy,'  and  allusions  to  the  ordinary 
fate  of  such.  These  tactics  failing,  Colonel  Jaquess  had  an  opportunity  to  open  a 
long,  serious  and  exceedingly  plain  conversation  with  Mr.  Davis,  carefully  selecting 
such  points  as  in  themselves  gave  least  room  for  controversy.  He  emphasized  the 
statement  that  he  was  present  only  in  his  individual  capacity,  since  he  believed  that 
neither  of  the  contending  powers  would  accept  commissioners  from  the  other  and 
thus  settle  existing  difficulties,  and  that  negotiation  would  only  end  in  wrangling, 
with  the  more  desperate  alienation,  unless  certain  points  could  be  previously  ad 
justed  by  an  unofficial  delegation  as  a  basis  for  further  official  discussion.  The  Col 
onel  therefore  remarked,  'Mr.  President,  I  came  on  my  own  responsibility  to  pre 
pare  the  way,  and  I  hope  that  we,  as  Christian  gentlemen,  may  succeed  in  discussing 
the  question  fully,  freely  and  frankly.  I  have  long  believed  that  our  troubles  were 
necessary  to  teach  a  threefold  lesson : 

"'1.  That  the  North  might  believe  that  the  terms  'secession,'  'separation,'  and 
'independence,'  when  employed  by  Southerners,  meant  something /'  (At  this,  the 
President  was  manifestly  pleased) — 

"  '2.  That  the  South  should  learn  that  one  Southerner  can  not  whip  five  Yankees 
— and 

" '  3.  That  foreign  nations  might  learn  that  the  United  States  can  never  be  defeated 
or  insulted  with  impunity.' 

"Mr.  Davis  then  remarked  with  a  degree  of  satisfaction  that  'the  South  had  done 
its  own  fighting  without  foreign  aid  or  sympathy.'  Colonel  Jaquess  replied,  with 
a  commendable  desire  to  assure  Mr.  Davis  that  the  South  would  not  lack  further 
opportunities  for  display  of  valor,  that  'we  in  the  North  have  but  one  sentiment; 
viz.,  that  of  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  and  that  no  man  could  be  elected 
President  upon  any  other  platform.  We  regard  you  as  the  aggressor,  and  if  one 
party  must  lose  its  life,  we  feel  not  only  at  liberty,  but  under  obligations,  to  take 
yours.  We  have  a  'peace  party,'  but  you  cannot  afford  to  trust  it,  for  our  masses 
are  against  you ;  and,  Mr.  Davis,  you  mistake  the  spirit  of  our  people.  We  respect 
and  love  you,  and  in  case  of  the  sudden  termination  of  the  war,  millions  of  Northern 
money  would  flow  south  to  relieve  your  destitute  and  suffering.  Indeed,  we  would 
sustain  our  President  should  he  in  such  a  case  issue  his  proclamation  of  universal 
amnesty.' 

"  Mr.  Davis,  with  the  evident  expectation  of  shaming  this  speech,  replied,  '  You 
have  poorly  manifested  your  "love1"1  in  your  conduct  of  the  war.' 

"Replied  the  Colonel  promptly,  'Oh,  we  are  not  just  now  making  friends — weave 
fighting  rebellion  /' 

"Mr.  Davis  asserted  that  he  foresaw  this  struggle,  this  bloodshed,  etc.,  and  while 
in  Congress,  strove  to  avert  it.  '  Before  God,'  said  he,  '  I  have  not  a  drop  of  this 
blood  on  my  skirts  I'  The  Colonel  says  he  barely  escaped  the  impulse  of  replying 
that  'this  would  be  a  dangerous  appeal  to  carry  before  God.'  Davis  then  pro- 


PERSONAL   RESEMBLANCE.  4:19 

'Ceeded  with  a  long  description  of  'state-rights,' etc.,  alluding  to  the  Declaration 
of  American  Independence  and  its  initial  principle  that  the  right  to  govern  depends 
upon  the  consent  of  the  governed — and  added,  '  if  we  of  the  South  talk  of  peace 
and  continued  union,  we  will  thereby  confess  that  we  have  blundered  in  beginning 
this  war.'-  Colonel  Jaquess  thinks  that  Mr.  Davis'  harangue  would  compare  favor 
ably  with  the  prevailing  style  of  copperhead  speeches  in  the  North,  and  would  be 
fully  endorsed  by  the  late  peace  party. 

"The  next  effort  of  our  worthy  Colonel  was  to  change  the  drift  of  the  conversa 
tion  and  to  obtain  the  rebel  ultimatum.  Mr.  Davis  asserted  that  the  Southern  people 
have  a  deep-seated  hatred  of  the  Northerners.  The  Northern  reply  was,  simply,  'I 
have  failed  to  discover  it,'  and,  the  Colonel  added,  'we  are  told  that  were  an  arm 
istice  for  ninety  days  agreed  upon,  our  people  could  not  be  induced  to  resume  hos 
tilities.'  'Oh,'  said  Mr.  D.,  'I  am  in  favor  of  an  armistice  if  you  will  admit  our 
independence — for  we  are  bound  to  have  separation  er  annihilation !' 

"  'Then,  Mr.  Davis,  you  will  obtain  annUiUation,  for  our  people  are  determined  you 
shall  not  establish  the  doctrine  of  secession. 

"  'Would  you  come  back  into  the  Union  as  a  confederacy  if  we  would  give  con 
stitutional  guarantees  of  your  claims  in  the  matter  of  slavery,  etc.  ?' 

"At  this  point,  Mr.  Benjamin,  who  had  been  writhing  for  a  long  time,  blurted  out 
with  volcanic  heat  and  impatience:  'If  the  throat  of  every  slave  in  the  confede 
racy  were  cut,  we  would  have  nothing  but  separation !'  Mr.  Davis  assented,  and 
reiterated  his  alternative  of  'separation  or  annihilation,'  and  again  received  the 
emphatic  consolation  that  he  would,  in  that  case,  inevitably  be  accommodated  with 
the  coveted  annihilation.  Mr.  Gilmore  here  asked  how  they  would  be  satisfied  with 
the  plan  of  submitting  the  question  to  the  people,  and  allowing  them  to  vote  for 
Mr.  Davis  as  the  secession  and  Mr.  Lincoln  as  the  Union  candidate  ?  '  Yes,'  said 
the  Colonel,  'let  the  majority  decide.'  The  reply  was,  from  Mr.  Davis,  with  an 
attempt  at  severity,  '  You  can  do  that  in  your  consolidated  form,  but  I  have  no  right 
to  ask  my  people  thus  to  vote,'  and  here  followed  that  heretical,  despotic,  anti- 
republican  sentiment  from  the  arch-rebel — '  We  liave  left  you  to  rid  ourselves  of  the  des 
potism  of  majorities  /' 

"The  Colonel  suggested  to  Mr.  Davis  that  he  had  better  not  let  the  Southern  peo 
ple  know  this,  and  received  the  assurance  that  he  was  at  liberty  '  to  proclaim  it 
from  every  house-top,'  from  the  improvement  of  which  invitation  the  Colonel  was 
'prevented  by  circumstances? 

"  Mr.  Benjamin,  in  his  account  of  the  occasion,  asserts,  for  effect,  that  at  this  point 
Mr.  Davis  wished  to  close  the  interview.  Colonel  J.  positively  contradicts  the  state 
ment,  and  asserts  that  Tie  was  the  first  to  indicate  such  a  desire.  Three  times  did 
the  Colonel  arise,  and  three  times  was  he  detained  by  a  renewal  of  the  conversa 
tion  !  Once  Colonel  J.  asked  Mr.  D.  if  they  would  ever  meet  again.  '  Oh,  yes ' 

was  the  reply. 

"  Col.  J. — My  Northern  friends  say  I  look  like  'Jeff.  Davis.' 

"  Mr.  D. — You  ought  not  to  consider  it  a  compliment. 


420  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

"  Col.  J. — I  do  not  consider  it  a  left-handed  one,  by  any  means. 

"  Mr.  D. — Tour  resemblance  to  myself  occurred  to  me  when  you  entered  the  root??; 

"  Col.  J. — And  I  had  the  corresponding  thought  at  the  same  time. 

"Then  followed  a  talk  for  twenty  minutes  about  ancestry,  etc.,  in  which  both  par 
ties  forgot  that  they  were  enemies — at  the  conclusion  of  which,  Colonel  J.,  for  the 
third  time,  arose,  saying,  '  When  may  I  come  again  ?'  '  When  you  come  to  tell  me 
that  the  North  is  willing  to  let  us  govern  ourselves  in  our  own  way!'  The  Colonel 
extended  his  hand,  which  was  warmly  grasped  by  both  of  the  President's — and  thus 
closed  this  remarkable  interview. 

"  We  have  read  Mr.  Gilmore's  published  accounts,  and  have  heard  his  two  subse 
quent  lectures  upon  the  same  topic.  And  now,  having  talked  three  or  four  hours 
with  ColonelJaquess,  we  feel  that  the  trip  to  Richmond  was  far  from  a  mere  roman 
tic  expedition,  and  that  the  accounts  of  Mr.  Gilmore  are  far  too  flippant  and  super 
ficial,  while  under  the  Colonel's  grave  recounting  it  rises  to  the  dignity  of  a  Provi 
dential  mission.  Certain  it  is  that  the  effort  of  Mr.  Benjamin,  in  his  circular,  to 
avert  the  consequences  of  the  published  statements — and  his  avowal  of  the  designs 
and  wishes,  too,  of  the  Southern  leaders,  went  far,  oh,  so  far,  to  gird  up  the  loins  of 
noble  Northern  freemen  for  the  struggle  in  which  God  gave  us  victory  on  the  8th  of 
last  November." 

BRIDGES'  BATTERY— ILLINOIS  LIGHT  ARTILLERY, 

Entered  camp  at  Chicago,  Illinois,  June  21,  1861,  as  Company  G, 
19th  Illinois  Infantry — left  Chicago  June  12,  1861,  with  the  follow 
ing  officers:  Captain,  Charles  D.  C.  Williams,  1st  Lieutenant,  Ly- 
man  Bridges,  2d  Lieutenant,  Charles  H.  Holland,  and  served  as  such 
with  that  regiment  in  Missouri  under  Gen.  Fremont.  Captain 
Williams  having  received  an  appointment  in  the  marine  service,  and 
Lieutenant  Roland  having  been  appointed  Captain  in  the  51st  Illi 
nois  Infantry,  Lieutenant  Bridges  was  appointed  Captain,  and  Ser 
geants  Win.  Bishop  and  Morris  D.  Temple,  were  appointed  Lieu 
tenants  in  the  company,  and  served  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee  and 
Alabama  under  Gen,  Buell. 

It  formed  a  part  of  Gen.  O.  M.  Mitchell's  division  in  his  advance 
upon  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky,  Nashville,  Murfreesboro,  Shelby-- 
ville,  Tennessee,  and  Huntsville,  Decatur,  Tuscumbia,  Alabama,  in 
March  and  April,  1862.  In  June  of  that  year,  it  marched  to  Chat 
tanooga,  Tennessee,  as  a  part  of  Gen.  Turohin's  brigade  of  Gen, 
STegley's  expedition.  Returning  to  Huntsville,  Alabama,  it  marched 
to  Winchester,  Tenn.  The  company  was  assigned  to  duty  as  pro 
vost  guard,  and  Capt.  Bridges  Provost  Marshal  of  the  place. 


421 

It  afterward  marched  over  the  Cumberland  Mountains,  through 
Point  Rock  Valley  to  Bridgeport,  Alabama,  and  returned  to  Hunts- 
ville,  Alabama,  and  was  assigned  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge  at 
Mill  Creek  on  the  T.  and  A.  Railroad,  when,  upon  the  retreat  of 
Gen.  Buell  to  Louisville,  the  company  was  left  with  the  19th  Illinois 
Infantry  as  a  part  of  the  garrison  of  Nashville, 

The  command  at  that  place  having  a  small  proportion  of  artillery, 
by  command  of  Gen.  Negley,  commanding  post,  Capt.  L.  Bridges  com 
manding  the  company,  was  ordered  to  take  his  company  and  fit  up  a 
light  battery  from  some  captured  guns  then  in  the  Ordnance  Depart 
ment  at  Nashville,  which  was  done,  and  the  battery  placed  in  posi 
tion  near  the  city  hospital  between  the  Franklin  and  G.  White 
Pikes,  as  a  part  of  the  defence  of  the  city.  Capt.  Bridges  having 
been  assigned  to  duty  as  Assistant  Engineer  to  Capt.  J.  St.  Clair 
Morton,  Engineer  Corps  TJ.  S.  A.,  and  Chief  Engineer  of  the  De 
partment  of  the  Ohio,  meanwhile  under  the  direction  of  Capt.  Mor 
ton,  placed  in  position  nearly  or  quite  all  the  heavy  ordnance  for  the 
defence  of  the  city. 

Upon  the  siege  being  raised  by  the  advance  of  Major-General 
Rosecrans,  Capt.  Bridges  was  sent  to  Gallatin  with  1,100  pioneers 
to  construct  a  fort,  upon  the  completion  of  which,  the  battery  was 
assigned  to  and  placed  in  the  fort  at  that  place,  remaining  there  in 
charge  of  Lieut.  Campbell,  until  December  20th,  when,  by  order  of 
Major-General  Rosecrans,  the  battery  turned  over  the  guns  to  a  bat 
tery  which  had  lost  its  guns  at  Hortoriville,  a  short  time  previously, 
returned  to  Nashville,  and  drawing  muskets,  marched  before  Mur- 
freesboro,  and  rejoined  the  19th  Illinois  Infantry  upon  the  battle 
field  on  the  night  of  January  2,  1863,  remaining  with  and  entering 
Murfreesboro  with  that  regiment. 

January  14,  1863,  by  order  of  the  War  Department,  the  company 
was  permanently  transferred  to  a  battery  of  light  artillery  of  six 
guns,  and  an  entire  new  equipment  secured  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and 
Sergeants  Lyman  A.  White  and  Franklin  Seborn,  were  promoted  to 
Lieutenants.  On  February  20th,  marched  to  Murfreesboro,  and  was 
assigned  to  duty  with  the  Pioneer  Brigade  Department  of  the  Cum 
berland,  marching  with  that  command  June  24th  to  Manchester  and 
Elk  River.  In  July  following,  Capt.  Bridges  having  applied  to  have 


422  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

his  battery  assigned  to  a  more  active  command,  by  order  of  Major- 
General  Rosecrans,  it  was  ordered  to  report  to  Major-General 
Thomas,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  with  the  1st  brigade,  2d  division, 
14th  Army  Corps,  and  crossed  the  Cumberland,  Sand,  and  Lookout 
Mountains,  and  served  through  the  battles  of  Dug  Gap  and  Chica- 
mauga  with  that  command. 

In  the  battles  of  September  19th  and  20th  at  Chiokamauga,  the 
battery  was  warmly  engaged  each  day,  losing  twenty-six  men — six 
killed,  sixteen  wounded,  and  four  captured — and  forty-six  horses. 

Second  Lieut.  Wm.  Bishop  was  killed  at  his  guns  on  September 
20th,  while  the  battery  was  being  charged  by  the  enemy. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  the  army  to  Chattanooga  after  the  above 
battles,  the  battery  was  placed  in  position  at  Fort  Negley  near  the 
Rossville  Pike,  and  remained  in  this  position  until  the  consolidation 
of  the  corps  when,  on  October  12,  1863,  it  was  assigned  to  the  3d 
division,  4th  army  corps,  Brig.-Gen.  T.  J.  Wood  commanding,  and 
placed  in  position  at  Fort  Wood,  in  the  northeast  defences  of  Chat 
tanooga,  and  Sergeant  Wm.  R.  Bite  was  promoted  to  a  2d  Lieutenantcy. 

The  battery  remained  in  this  position  throwing  an  occasional  shot 
into  the  enemy's  lines  daily,  until  November  23d,  when  our  lines  ad 
vanced  toward  Mission  Ridge  and  drove  the  enemy  from  and  held 
the  Bald  Knob,  known  as  Orchard  Knob,  one  and  one  third  miles  in 
advance  of  our  fortified  lines  and  midway  between  Chattanooga  and 
Mission  Ridge. 

By  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  Granger  the  battery  moved  out  and  was 
placed  in  position  during  the  following  night  upon  Orchard  Knob. 
The  day  following  it  drove  the  enemy's  guns  out  of  his  line  of 
works  at  the  base  of  the  Ridge,  and  was  engaged  at  intervals.  No 
vember  25th  it  was  also  engaged  with  the  enemy,  and  by  order  of 
Maj.-Gen.  Grant  at  3  p.  M.  fired  the  signal  of  six  guns  for  the  grand 
charge  upon  Mission  Ridge,  the  battery  retaining  its  position  to  the 
close  of  the  battle.  November  28th,  the  battery  received  orders  to 
prepare  to  march  to  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  and  marched  with  Brig.-Gen. 
Wood's  division  to  Maryville,  Knoxville,  Strawberry  Plains,  Blain's 
Cross  Roads,  Clinch  Mountains,  Danbridge,  Knoxville,  Maryville, 
Rutledge,  Morristown,  etc.,  being  upon  a  campaign  the  entire  winter 
of  1863-4.  In  April,  of  1864,  it  marched  to  Knoxville,  London  and 


423 

Cleveland,  rejoining  the  corps  at  that  place.  On  May  2,  1864, 
inarched  with  Brig.-Gen.  Wood's  division  and  3d  division,  4th  army 
corps,  to  join  the  grand  army  of  the  Middle  Division  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  under  the  command  of  Major-General  W.  T.  Sherman,  which 
was  concentrated  near  Ringgold,  Ga. 

May  6th,  the  command  inarched  to  Tunnel  Hill,  Ga.,  and  was 
engaged  at  Tunnel  Hill  and  Buzzard  Roost.  Upon  the  enemy  be 
ing  driven  out  of  Dalton,  the  battery  marched  to  Resaca,  Ga., 
and  was  placed  in  several  positions  in  reserve  during  that  engagement. 

Upon  the  evacuation  of  Resaca  it  marched  to  Adairsville, 
where  it  was  thrown  into  position  and  engaged  the  enemy's  bat 
teries  upon  the  right  of  the  town.  From  Adairsville  it  marched 
the  following  day,  and  May  16  and  18,  1864,  shelled  the  enemy  vig 
orously  some  two  miles  south  of  the  town  of  Kingston,  also  in  front 
of  the  town  of  Cassville.  While  the  army  was  halted  at  Cassville 
a  few  days  for  rest  and  supplies,  Captain  Bridges  was  appointed 
Chief  of  Artillery  of  the  corps.  May  23,  1864,  the  battery  inarched 
in  command  of  Lieut.  Morris  D.  Temple  to  Enhaiie  and  -Mount 
Hope  Church,  where  it  was  warmly  engaged  with  the  enemy's  lines 
and  batteries  for  five  days  in  succession,  losing  one  man  killed  and 
several  men  wounded.  June  5th  it  marched  to  Morris  Hill  Church 
near  Ackworth,  Ga.,  where  Lieuts.  Temple  and  Bite  and  all  the 
non- veterans  were  mustered  out  of  the  service  and  left  for  Chicago, 
Illinois.  The  command  of  the  battery  devolved  upon  1st  Lieut. 
Lyman  A.  White.  Sergeants  C.  E.  Dodge  and  L.  C.  Lawrence 
received  commissions  as  Lieutenants.  The  battery  marched  from 
Morris  Hill  Church  to  Pine  Mountain  June  10th,  and  Black  Jack 
Hills  June  14th.  At  each  place  it  was  engaged.  June  17th  it 
marched  to  Kenesaw  Mountain,  and  was  placed  in  several  positions 
on  the  4th  army  corps  front,  engaging  the  enemy  and  his  batteries  daily. 

Lieut.  F.  Seborn  was  here  mortally  wounded  while  working  his 
guns  in  an  artillery  duel  with  a  rebel  battery.  July  3d,  the  enemy 
having  abandoned  his  lines  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  the  battery 
marched  to  Marietta  and  Neil  Dow  Station  with  General  Wood's 
division,  and  on  July  5th  marched  with  General  Wood  to  the  Chat- 
tahoochee  River  and  engaged  the  enemy  as  he  was  crossing  the 
River,  compelling  him  to  abandon  his  pontoons,  and  remained  in  po- 


424:  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

sition  covering  Pace's  Ferry  several  clays,  until  July  12th,  when  it 
marched  to  Powers'  Ferry,  crossing  the  Chattahoochee  River  with 
General  Wood's  command.  July  16th,  it  marched  to  Buck  Head 
and  Peach  Tree  Creek  and  was  warmly  engaged  with  two  rebel 
batteries,  one  of  whom  it  silenced  during  the  advance  of  General 
Wood's  lines. 

July  19th,  it  marched  to  the  left  of  the  corps  with  Gen.  Wood's 
command,  and  by  order  of  Maj.-Gen.  Howard  took  position  upon  a 
knob  one-half  of  a  mile  in  advance  of  our  lines  supported  by  two 
regiments,  and  played  upon  the  flank  of  a  column  of  rebels  march 
ing  to  our  right.  July  22d,  it  was  placed  in  position  before  and 
within  one  and  one-half  miles  from  the  center  of  the  city  of  Atlanta, 
and  constructed  works  for  the  guns.  The  exact  range  having  been 
obtained  from  actual  survey,  and  the  points  of  compass  ascertained, 
the  battery  opened  upon  the  enemy  and  city  of  Atlanta  daily.  The 
effect  of  each  shot  was  observed  from  a  signal  station  near  the  bat 
tery.  July  30th,  by  the  organization  of  the  artillery  brigade,  4th 
army  corps,  it  reported  to  Captain  Bridges,  commanding  the  artil 
lery  brigade  of  the  corps.  August  25th,  it  marched  with  the  artil 
lery  brigade  to  Procter's  Creek,  and  on  August  26th,  to  Mf. 
Gilead  Church,  and  with  Brig. -Gen.  Wood's  division  to  Rough 
and  Ready,  Jonesboro  and  Lovejoy's  Station;  at  the  latter  place  it 
was  in  action  three  days.  •  On  September  4th,  it  marched  with  the 
artillery  brigade  from  Lovejoy's  Station  to  Jonesboro,  Rough  and 
Ready  and  Atlanta,  arriving  at  Atlanta  on  September  7th.  In  Oc 
tober,  1864,  it  marched  with  the  4th  army  corps,  participated  in  the 
pursuit  of  General  Hood's  army  to  Rome,  Ga.,  Galesville,  Ala., 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.;  Huntsville  and  Athens,  Ala.;  and  Pulaski, 
Tenn. ;  and  in  November,  marched  to  Columbia,  Spring  Hill,  Frank 
lin  and  Nashville,  being  in  action  at  each  of  the  above  places  except 
Spring  Hill,  arriving  at  Nashville  December  1,  1864. 

December  21,  1864,  the  battery  was  assigned  the  letter  B,  1st  111. 
light  artillery,  and  is  now  known  as  Battery  B,  1st  111.  light  artillery, 
Captain  Bridges  having  been  promoted  to  a  Majority  in  that  regi 
ment.  The  following  were  the  officers  January  1,  1865  : 

Captain,  Lyrnan  A.  White ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Clark  E.  Dodge ;  Junior 
1st  Lieutenant,  Samuel  C.  Lawrence;  2d  Lieutenant.  Alphonso  W. 
Potter ;  Junior  2d  Lieutenant,  William  Peterson. 


OHAPTEE    XXIII. 

THE  VICKSBURG  CAMPAIGN — ORIGINAL  PLAN  OP  GENERAL  GRANT'S  MOVEMENT— His 
ADVANCE  ON  HOLLY  SPRINGS — THE  BATTLE  NEAR  COFFEEVILLE — GALLANTRY  OP 
COLS.  DICKEY  AND  LEE'S  CAVALRY — A  RETROGRADE  MOVEMENT — COL.  DICKEY'S  EXPE 
DITION — His  ESCAPE  FROM  VAN  DORN'S  CAVALRY — REBEL  RAIDS  UPON  GRANT'S 
COMMUNICATIONS — THE  DISGRACEFUL  SURRENDER  OF  HOLLY  SPRINGS — REPULSE  OF 
THE  REBELS  AT  DAVIS'  MILLS — FORREST'S  RAID  ON  HUMBOLDT  AND  TRENTON — THE 
BATTLE  OF  PARKER'S  CROSS  ROADS — GALLANTRY  OP  THE  FIRST  BRIGADE — A  CRISIS 
IN  THE  BATTLE — ITS  RESCUE  BY  THE  SECOND  BRIGADE — GENS.  I.  N.  HAYNIE  AND 
SULLIVAN  TO  THE  RESCUE — THE  REBELS  DEFEATED — GRANT  FALLS  BACK  TO  HOLLY 
SPRINGS. 

WE  now  approach  the  persistent  and  protracted  siege  of  Vicks- 
burg — a  siege  marked  with  bloody  battles,  glorious  victories, 
great  loss  of  life,  and  the  accomplishment  of  the  most  valuable  re 
sults,  as  it  opened  the  Mississippi  River  from  its  source  to  the  Gulf, 
and  divided  the  armies  of  the  rebels  by  an  effectual  barrier.  The 
campaign  against  Vicksburg  really  commenced  on  the  28th  of  No 
vember,  1862,  at  which  time  the  forces  of  General  Grant  were  at 
Lagrange,  three  miles  east  of  Grand  Junction,  on  the  Cairo  and  New 
Orleans  Railroad,  with  garrisons  at  Columbus,  Humboldt,  Trenton 
and  Jackson  in  Tennessee,  and  Bolivar  and  Corinth  in  Mississippi. 
These  were  known  as  the  Army  of  West  Tennessee.  The  rebel 
forces  were  at  Coldwater  and  Holly  Springs,  about  twenty  miles 
distant. 

Large  reinforcements  having  arrived,  and  ample  supplies  having 
been  received,  General  Hamilton's  corps,  on  the  28th  of  November, 
moved  in  the  direction  of  Holly  Springs,  which  was  occupied  on  the 
30th.  By  the  18th  of  December,  all  of  General  Grant's  forces  had 
come  up  and  were  chiefly  encamped  at  Lumpkins's  Mills,  north  of 
Holly  Springs  and  seven  miles  north  of  the  Tallahatchie  River.  The 


426  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

rebels,  under  Van  Dorn,  at  once  commenced  falling  back  to  the  river 
and  our  cavalry,  under  Cols.  Dickey  and  Lee,  followed  them  up 
harassing  their  rear-guard.  In  the  pursuit,  an  attempt  was  made 
by  our  forces  to  capture  Coffeeville,  which  came  near  resulting  in  a 
serious  disaster  to  our  cavalry.  The  order  of  march  was  as  follows : 
Col.  Mizener,  with  the  3d  brigade  in  the  advance  ;  Col.  Lee,  with 
the  1st  brigade,  in  the  center,  and  Col.  Hatch,  with  the  2d  brigade, 
at  the  rear.  Subsequently,  Col.  Mizener  took  a  road  running  parallel 
to  the  Coffeeville  road,  which  brought  him  to  the  rear  of  Col.  Lee's 
column  when  he  reached  it,  thus  giving  Col.  Lee  the  advance.  In 
this  order  the  column  moved  forward.  When  near  the  river,  a  large 
advance  guard  was  sent  forward  and  a  company  was  deployed  to 
right  and  left  as  skirmishers.  The  skirmishing  became  very  heavy, 
and  our  forces  being  unable  to  move  the  enemy,  Col.  Lee  brought 
a  10-pounder  and  put  it  into  position.  This  had  hardly  been  done 
before  a  full  rebel  battery  opened  upon  him.  While  this  cannonade 
was  going  on,  the  skirmishers  had  encountered  a  heavy  force  of  the 
rebel  infantry  which  rose  from  the  ground  where  it  had  been  con 
cealed,  and  poured  volley  after  volley  into  our  skirmishers,  who 
were  obliged  to  retire  after  suffering  severe  loss. 

Cols.  Dickey  and  Lee  soon  found  that  their  position  was  unten 
able,  and  that  a  retreat  must  be  executed  as  speedily  and  as  promptly 
as  possible.  The  flanking  parties  and  skirmishers  were  called  in 
and  two  squadrons  of  the  4th  Illinois  cavalry,  under  Capt.  Townsend, 
were  left  in  the  rear  to  delay  the  enemy's  advance.  But  the  move 
ment  had  hardly  commenced  when  the  rear-guard  followed,  driven 
before  the  rebel  infantry,  who  were  charging  forward  in  strong 
force.  Two  regiments  advanced  on  our  right,  another  on  the  center, 
while  two  more  were  marching  on  our  left  flank.  Our  forces  opened 
a  terrible  fire  upon  them.  For  a  moment  they  were  held  in  check, 
when  our  troops  slowly  retired  up  a  hill,  halting  every  few  rods  to 
pour  a  volley  into  the  rebel  advance,  now  close  upon  our  rear.  At 
the  crest  of  the  hill,  Hatch's  force  which  had  been  in  reserve,  held 
their  fire  until  the  rebels  were  within  twenty  yards  of  them,  and 
then  rose  and  poured  a  terrible  volley  into  them.  Five  times  this 
volley  was  repeated  and  the  rebels  wavered  and  fell  back ;  but  re 
ceiving  fresh  accessions,  again  renewed  the  attack,  and  advanced 


COFFEEVILLE    FIGHT.  427 

upon  our  right  and  left  flanks.  To  avoid  being  cut  off,  our  forces 
fell  back  through  some  dense  timber,  slowly  and  stubbornly  con 
testing  every  inch  of  ground.  New  lines  were  formed  and  fresh 
troops  were  brought  up,  but  the  rebels  were  equally  fortunate  in 
this  respect,  and  constantly  opposed  new  and  fresh  troops  to  ours. 
The  danger  of  being  flanked  and  cut  off  was  still  imminent,  and  a 
hasty  retreat  was  ordered.  For  three  miles  this  style  of  warfare 
was  continued,  when  the  enemy  gave  up  the  pursuit  and  our  forces 
arrived  at  their  camping  grounds.  The  fight,  while  it  lasted,  was 
most  obstinate,  although  the  odds  against  our  forces  were  nearly 
three  to  one.  Both  officers  and  men  did  nobly.  Cols.  Dickey,  Lee 
and  Mizener,  Lieut. -Colonels  Prince  and  McCullongh,  and  Majors 
Coon,  Rickards  and  Love  were  constantly  exposed  to  a  most  galling 
fire  and  were  everywhere  in  the  fiercest  of  the  strife.  One  of  Col. 
Lee's  best  officers  was  killed  and  five  of  Col.  Hatch's  were  wounded. 
Lieut.-Coloncl  McCullough,  of  the  4th  Illinois  cavalry  fell  bravely 
at  the  head  of  his  column,  shot  in  the  breast.  The  casualties  among 
Illinois  troops  in  this  fight  and  retreat  were  as  follows  :  4th  Illinois, 
one  killed,  thirteen  wounded  and  three  missing ;  Yth  Illinois,  three 
killed,  eleven  wounded  and  twenty  missing.  The  total  of  casualties 
in  killed,  wounded  and  missing,  of  all  the  troops  engaged,  summed 
up  ninety-nine. 

But  our  cavalry  had  little  rest.  They  were  constantly  on  the 
alert  and  in  the  advance,  engaged  in  harassing  the  enemy  or  upon 
important  expeditions.  On  the  13th  of  December,  Colonel  Dickey 
received  an  order  from  General  Grant,  commanding  him  to  take  a 
part  of  his  division  of  cavalry  and  strike  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Rail 
road  as  far  south  as  practicable,  and  destroy  it  as  much  as  possible. 
On  the  14th  Col.  Hatch  reported  to  Col.  Dickey  with  eight  hundred 
picked  men,  ready  for  his  share  of  the  expedition.  Major  Rickards, 
with  a  battalion  of  the  5th  Ohio  cavalry,  was  sent  to  make  a  demon 
stration  toward  Grenada,  and  the  remainder  of  the  2d  brigade  went 
with  the  train  to  the  rear.  Col.  Mizener  was  ordered  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  1st  and  3d  brigades  to  make  a  reconnoissance  towards 
Grenada. 

On  the  14th,  with  a  small  escort  from  company  F,  of  the  4th  Illi 
nois  cavalry,  under  Lieut.  Carter,  Col.  Hatch's  detachment  and  the 


428  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

7th  Illinois  cavalry,  Col.  Dickey,  took  the  road  towards  Okolona, 
and  reached  Pontotoc  on  the  next  morning,  after  a  march  of  forty-five 
miles.  Several  scouting  parties  of  the  rebels  were  captured,  who 
gave  the  information  that  a  body  of  rebel  infantry  from  Bragg' s 
army  was  encamped  near  Pontotoc  and  another  near  Tupelo,  and 
that  there  was  a  strong  rebel  force  at  Okolona.  At  Pontotoc  a  vio 
lent  storm  set  in  and  the  roads  became  very  heavy,  obliging  Col. 
Dickey  to  send  back  the  prisoners,  ambulances,  and  some  wagons 
laden  with  spoils  found  at  that  place.  Major  Coon,  of  the  2d  Iowa, 
with  one  hundred  men,  was  sent  forward  to  strike  the  railroad  at 
Ooonawa  Station,  with  orders  to  destroy  the  telegraph  line  and  rail 
road  and  the  railroad  bridge  near  Okolona. 

On  the  15th,  with  the  rest  of  the  command,  Colonel  Dickey  took 
the  road  for  Tupelo  in  the  midst  of  a  terrific  rain  storm,  but  they 
moved  steadily  forward  over  the  low  muddy  ground,  and  through 
swamps  and  creeks  until  within  two  miles  of  Tupelo,  when  it  was 
found  that  a  Union  force  from  Corinth  had  arrived  at  Saltillo,  eight 
miles  north  of  Tupelo  that  day,  and  that  the  rebels  had  retreated. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Prince  of  the  7th  Illinois  Cavalry,  with  one  hun 
dred  men,  pushed  forward  and  occupied  Tupelo,  while  the  rest  of 
the  force  fell  back  seven  miles  to  render  aid  to  Major  Coon  if  neces 
sary.  The  Major,  however,  had  thoroughly  and  successfully  per 
formed  his  work.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Prince  returned  to  the  camp 
on  the  16th,  having  found  no  enemy  at  Tupelo  and  having  destroyed 
some  important  trestle-work  north  of  the  town.  On  the  16th  and 
17th,  all  the  trestle-work  and  bridges  from  Saltillo  to  Okolona,  a 
distance  of  thirty-four  miles,  were  destroyed,  as  well  as  a  large 
amount  of  timber  for  repairing  purposes.  At  Verona,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Prince  captured  eighteen  large  boxes  of  infantry  equip 
ments  marked,  "  Colonel  S.  D.  Roddy,"  several  boxes  of  canteens, 
a  large  quantity  of  clothing  and  tents,  some  commissary  stores, 
small  arms  and  ammunition,  all  of  which  was  destroyed. 

On  the  night  of  the  17th,  the  force  camped  at  Harrisburgh,  a  de 
serted  village  about  two  miles  from  Tupelo  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
18th  took  up  their  line  of  march  on  the  return.  About  noon  Colonel 
Dickey  ascertained  that  a  large  rebel  force  of  cavalry  was  in  Ponto 
toc.  Closing  up  his  column,  he  moved  to  the  northwest  with  a  view 


cot.  DICKEY'S  EXPEDITION. 

of  passing  some  four  miles  north  of  Pontotoc.  Some  stragglers 
from  the  rebel  columns  were  captured,  and  from  them  it  was  learned 
that  .the  rebel  force  was  moving  out  from  Pontotoc  and  passing 
across  his  track  a  mile  ahead  of  them.  The  enemy  was  over 
whelming  in  point  of  numbers  and  our  troops  worn  out.  It  was 
therefore  not  deemed  prudent  to  attack.  Throwing  out  a  small 
guard  at  a  strong  position,  the  column  was  moved  towards  Ponto 
toc  on  the  road  leading  to  Tuscumbia.  Passing  down  this  road,  the 
rebel  force  was  in  full  view  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  distant, 
moving  in  another  direction.  Couriers  were  dispatched  to  Gen. 
Grant  informing  him  of  this  cavalry  movement,  and  the  column 
moved  on  from  Pontotoc  in  a  northwest  direction  for  a  few  miles, 
and  then  turned  southwest  across  the  country  to  the  road  from 
Pontotoc  to  Oxford.  Following  this  a  few  miles  it  again  turned 
south  and  crossed  the  Yockna  River.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the 
19th,  it  again  took  up  the  line  of  march,  and  after  a  day's  march 
reported  at  Oxford  to  which  place  General  Grant  had  in  the  mean 
time  advanced.  The  expedition  had  been  absent  six  days,  and  in 
that  time  had  marched  two  hundred  miles,  worked  two  days  at  the 
railroad,  captured  one  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners,  destroyed  thirty- 
four  miles  of  railroad  and  a  large  amount  of  the  enemy's  stores  and 
returned,  passing  round  our  enemy,  nine  to  their  one,  and  reached 
camp  without  having  a  man  killed,  wounded  or  captured. 

The  force  of  rebel  cavalry  passing  northward  which  Col.  Dickey 
had  seen,  was  closely  followed  by  Gen.  Grant's  scouts.  So  well  had 
Gen.  Grant  divined  Yan  Dorn's  purpose  and  timed  his  march,  that  on 
the  19th  he  telegraphed  to  the  commandant  of  the  garrison  at  Holly 
Springs  that  the  enemy  would  attack  him  next  day,  but  that  he  had 
sent  him  sufficient  reinforcements  to  repel  the  attack,  but  unfortu 
nately  they  arrived  too  late  owing  to  obstructions  in  the  road. 
The  rebel  force  consisting  of  twenty-two  regiments  of  Van  Dorn's 
cavalry  dashed  into  the  town,  which  was  surrendered  with  all  its 
valuable  stores  without  resistance.  A  guard  of  a  hundred  infantry 
around  the  government  stores  made  a  brief  fight,  but  were  soon 
overwhelmed.  Six  companies  of  the  2d  Illinois  Cavalry  were  com 
pletely  surrounded  in  the  town  by  as  many  thousands,  and  were 
called  upon  to,  surrender,  ta  which  demand  they  made  reply  by 


430  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

dashing  upon  the  enemy  in  splendid  style  and  cutting  their  way  out* 
It  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  deeds  of  the  war — a  little  band  of 
six  hundred  men  against  over  eight  thousand,  and  still  they  mowed 
their  way  through  them,  made  a  path  for  themselves  and  escaped. 
Van  Dorn  remained  in  the  town  from  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning 
until  five  in  the  evening,  during  which  time  he  destroyed  govern 
ment  property  to  the  value  of  over  three  millions  of  dollars,  besides 
an  immense  amount  of  private  property,  and  then  left,  his  rear  guard 
marching  out  of  the  place  about  an  hour  before  the  reinforcements 
arrived.  General  Grant  issued  a  severe  order  reflecting  upon  this 
disgraceful  surrender,  both  on  account  of  the  absence  of  any  resistance, 
and  the  fact  that  the  prisoners  had  taken  parole.  He  excepted  one 
regiment  from  censure,  however,  in  the  following  terms  :  "  It  is  grati 
fying  to  notice  in  contrast  with  this,  the  conduct  of  a  portion  of  the 
command,  conspicuous  among  whom  was  the  2d  Illinois  Cavalry, 
who  gallantly  and  successfully  resisted  being  taken  prisoners.  Their 
loss  was  heavy,  but  the  enemy's  was  much  greater.  Such  conduct 
as  theirs  will  always  insure  success." 

On  the  21st  of  December,  the  force  which  had  captured  Holly 
Springs,  suddenly  appeared  at  D avis' s  Mills,  a  small  place  on  the 
Wolf  River  twenty  miles  north  of  Holly  Springs,  garrisoned  by  six 
companies  of  the  25th  Indiana  infantry  and  two  companies  of  Ohio 
cavalry.  Although  the  attack  was  made  in  over  whelming  numbers 
and  with  great  fierceness  and  determination,  still  the  little  garrison 
held  them  at  bay  from  behind  their  hastily  constructed  defences  and 
finally  compelled  them  to  retire,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded 
and  some  prisoners  in  our  hands.  Indeed,  after  leaving  Holly 
Springs,  Van  Dorn's  raid  was  a  humiliating  failure.  After  his  defeat 
he  crossed  Wolf  River,  took  a  look  at  Bolivar,  broke  out  of  our 
lines  at  Middleburg  and  was  gone. 

But  in  the  meantime  the  rebel  Colonel  Forrest  was  at  work  upon 
our  communications  also.  On  the  18th  of  December  a  report 
reached  General  Sullivan  commanding  at  Jackson,  that  Forrest  with 
a  large  force  had  crossed  the  Tennessee  and  was  rapidly  making  his 
way  to  Jackson  via  Lexington.  He  immediately  made  his  prepara 
tions  to  receive  the  attack,  and  on  the  evening  of  the  18th  was  rein 
forced  by  Brayman's  and  Fuller's  brigades.  On  the  19th,  the  enemy 


FORREST'S  RAID.  431 

was  reported  within  two  miles.  General  Sullivan  ordered  out  the 
43d  Illinois,  Colonel  Ingleman,  to  go  to  the  front  and  hold  back  the 
rebel  advance  as  much  as  possible.  Ingleman  ambuscaded  his  force 
and  waited  Forrest's  approach.  As  the  rebel  advance  came  on,  the 
43d  fired  a  terrific  volley  into  the  unsuspecting  ranks  and  then  com 
menced  falling  back  slowly,  harassing  the  enemy  at  every  step.  In 
the  afternoon  more  reinforcements  arrived  at  Jackson  forwarded 
from  Oxford  by  General  Grant.  Forrest,  posted  as  to  these  rein 
forcements  and  constantly  harrassed  by  Colonel  Ingleman,  feared  to 
attack,  and  commenced  throwing  shells  into  the  town  hoping  to 
destroy  it.  Gen.  Brayman's  brigade  was  ordered  out  as  skirmishers 
and  did  its  work  so  well  that  it  forced  back  the  rebel  skirmishers 
two  miles,  and  then  encamped. 

On  the  20th,  leaving  eleven  hundred  men  to  guard,  Jackson,  Gen 
erals  Sullivan  and  Haynie,  with  the  remainder,  numbering  about 
seven  thousand,  set  out  in  pursuit  of  Forrest,  Major  Smith  of  the 
45th  Illinois  being  left  in  command  of  the  town.  On  the  same  day 
cannonading  was  heard  in  the  direction  of  Spring  Creek  and  Hum- 
boldt,  and  five  hundred  men  were  ordered  to  reinforce  Trenton  by 
way  of  Humboldt.  It  was  not  until  late  in  the  afternoon  that  the 
news  was  received  that  Forrest  had  destroyed  the  trestle  work  on 
the  Mobile  &  Ohio  Railroad,  and  had  captured  Humboldt,  Trenton, 
Dyer's,  Rutherford,  Keaton  and  other  stations  on  the  road. 

On  the  21st,  not  finding  the  rebels,  General  Sullivan  returned  to 
Jackson,  where  an  attack  was  continually  anticipated,  and  soon  af 
ter  his  return,  the  following  troops,  by  his  order,  reported  to  General 
Haynie:  106th  Illinois,  Colonel  Latham;  119th  Illinois,  Major  Wat 
son;  ninety  men  of  the  llth  Illinois  cavalry;  a  company  of  the 
18th  Illinois;  the  39th  Iowa,  and  the  Iowa  Union  Brigade.  With 
these  troops  he  commenced  repairing  the  broken  road.  Having  put 
the  road  in  running  order  he  moved  on  to  Humboldt,  where  he  re 
mained  until  the  26th,  having  been  joined  in  the  meantime  by  the 
126th  Illinois,  Colonel  Beardsley,  the  122d  Illinois,  Colonel  Rinaker, 
and  the  7th  Tennessee.  Leaving  Colonel  Beardsley  at  Humboldt  he 
moved  to  Trenton,  arriving  there  at  noon  of  the  26th,  and  reporting 
to  General  Sullivan.  Upon  sending  out  his  scouts  he  found  that 
Forrest  had  changed  front,  having  a  portion  of  his  force  at  Middle- 


432  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

burg  and  the  remainder  at  Dresden,  and  that  the  rebel  pickets  Were 
not  over  two  miles  from  his  own.  On  the  27th  Gen.  Sullivan  for 
warded  to  him  five  regiments  and  two  batteries,  and  at  night  came 
up  with  the  remainder  of  his  force. 

On  the  morning  of  the  28th,  General  Sullivan  camped  at  Shady 
Grove,  about  half  a  day's  march  from  Huntington.  Captain  Bur- 
bridge,  of  the  llth  Illinois  cavalry,  was  ordered  forward  on  the 
29th  to  occupy  Huntington  and  hold  a  bridge  over  a  small  stream 
beyond,  and  prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing  to  the  town.  They 
reached  the  bridge  about  the  same  time  with  the  rebel  pickets,  but 
the  latter  fell  back  and  the  llth  held  the  position.  The  rest  of  the 
column  rapidly  came  up  and  the  regiments  were  placed  in  position, 
while  another  detachment  of  cavalry  was  sent  out  four  miles  towards 
Forrest's  advance  to  hold  a  second  bridge  on  the  Dresden  road, 
which  was  accomplished  with  small  loss. 

On  the  30th,  finding  that  they  were  cut  off  from  passing  through 
Huntington,  the  rebels  moved  in  south  and  west  directions,  intend 
ing  to  reach  Lexington.  General  Sullivan  learned  of  the  movement 
and  dispatched  Colonel  Dunham  and  the  2d  brigade  to  intercept 
them.  Late  in  the  evening  the  brigade  reached  Clarksburg,  nine 
miles  from  Huntington.  Thence  it  moved  on  towards  Lexington. 
Forrest's  force  in  the  meantime  had  made  a  detour  to  the  westward 
and  reached  the  Lexington  road  at  Parker's  Cross  Roads,  intending 
to  strike  the  road  through  Lexington  for  Clifton,  the  proposed  cross 
ing  place  of  the  Tennessee  River.  Colonel  Dunham's  little  force 
reached  the  Cross  Roads  on  the  morning  of  the  31st,  and  to  his  sur 
prise  he  found  himself  confronting  Forrest's  force  drawn  up  in  a 
field  supported  by  three  batteries  in  front,  and  the  road  through 
which  he  must  pass  encircled  with  rebel  cavalry,  the  whole  com 
manded  by  Forrest  in  person.  All  that  was  left  for  Colonel  Dun 
ham  was  to  fight  it  out.  Escape  was  impossible.  The  enemy  made 
the  attack  with  the  batteries.  Dunham's  brigade  formed  in  solid 
column  south  of  the  batteries,  in  as  good  a  position  as  they  could 
find.  The  enemy  poured  a  terrific  storm  of  shot  and  shell  into 
and  around  the  column,  and  for  three  hours  the  battle  raged 
fiercely,  the  little  band  fighting  without  hope,  but  determined  to 
fight  on  even  to  the  death.  But  soon  all  ammunition  gave  out.  It 


CROSS  ROADS.      .  433 

could  not  be  replenished,  but  each  man  stood  in  his  place,  steadily, 
coolly,  as  if  on  parade,  and  the  rebel  cavalry  pressing  on  them  and 
hurled  back  with  the  bayonet.  There  was  a  sudden  movement  of 
the  enemy  to  the  right  and  the-  brigade  was  hemmed  in,  but  they 
never  flinched.  They  still  fought  on,  contesting  every  inch  of 
ground  with  the  bayonet.  Seeing  their  hopeless  condition  and  per 
haps  admiring  their  bravery,  Forrest  ordered  a  cessation  of  hostili 
ties  and  a  parley  ensued.  A  flag  of  truce  came  to  Colonel  Dunham 
demanding  unconditional  surrender.  The  gallant  Colonel  sent  back 
word  :  "  You  will  get  away  with  that  flag  very  quickly,  and  bring 
me  no  more  such  messages.  Give  my  compliments  to  the  General 
and  tell  him  I  never  surrender.  If  he  thinks  he  can  take  me,  come 
and  try."  This  was  at  least  gaining  time.  It  was  noon,  and  the  1st 
brigade  could  not  be  far  away.  Forrest  had  received  his  answer 
and  was  about  to  resume  hostilities,  when  upon  a  knoll  just  in  sight 
appeared  Generals  Sullivan  and  Haynie,  and  behind  them  the  1st 
brigade,  cavalry,  artillery  and  infantry  thundering  along  on  the 
double  quick,  which  had  been  kept  up  for  three  miles.  The  scene 
was  an  impressive  one.  The  2d  brigade  stood  in  compact  form 
ready  to  receive  anew  the  attack  of  the  rebel  host  hemming  them 
in,  each  man  sternly  resolved  never  to  surrender.  The  rebels  are 
preparing  to  assault  the  devoted  band.  Suddenly  General  Sullivan 
appears  in  advance  of  his  brigade.  His  eye  at  once  catches  the  sit 
uation.  He  turns  on  his  horse  and  shouts :  "  Here  they  are !  Hurry 
up  that  artillery."  And  the  artillery  did  hurry.  They  rushed  to 
the  knoll,  unlimbered  in  an  instant,  and  got  the  range  of  a  lane 
in  front  crowded  with  rebels.  The  infantry  deployed  on  the  flanks, 
fixed  bayonets,  but  before  artillery  could  fire  or  infantry  charge,  the 
rebels  broke  ranks  and  fled  in  a  panic,  stricken  with  amazement  at 
the  almost  supernatural  appearance  of  this  new  force.  So  suddenly 
did  they  make  their  appearance  that  even  the  1st  brigade  stood 
still  with  wonder.  The  2d- brigade  rapidly  dispersed  the  enemy, 
and  the  1st  joined  with  them.  Gun  after  gun  was  captured.  Every 
man  of  the  enemy  was  trying  to  save  himself.  The  newly  arrived 
artillery  did  not  have  an  opportunity  of  firing  a  single  gun.  The 
rebel  artillerymen  fled  with  the  rest,  and  could  not  be  driven  to  their 
position  by  the  most  frantic  exertions  of  their  officers.  The  battle 

18 


434:  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

was  won  and  the  brigade  united  in  wild  cheer  upon  cheer,  and  then 
came  the  congratulations  on  one  side  and  the  gratitude  on  the  other 
at  relief  from  peril. 

The  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  upon  the  Union  side 
did  not  exceed  one  hundred,  while  upon  the  rebel  side  it  reached 
over  one  thousand.  Among  the  wounded  was  Colonel  Rinaker,  who 
was  struck  in  the  leg  with  a  bullet.  The  principal  loss  fell  upon  the 
members  of  the  122d  Illinois.  Lieut.  Scott,  of  the  llth  Illinois 
cavalry,  acting  as  an  aid  to  Colonel  Dunham,  was  taken  prisoner. 
Colonel  Dunham,  in  his  official  report,  paid  the  following  handsome 
compliment  to  an  Illinois  regiment:  "The  122d  Illinois  deserves  es 
pecial  notice.  It  is  comparatively  a  new  regiment,  and  part  of  it 
was  at  one  time  more  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire  than  any  other ; 
at  any  rate,  it  suffered  more  in  killed  and  wounded.  Its  gallant 
Colonel  fell  severely  wounded,  yet  its  courage  never  flagged,  and  it 
met  every  duty  and  every  danger  with  unwavering  resolution.  The 
detachment  of  the  18th  Illinois  acted  for  the  most  part  with  it  and 
deserves  the  same  commendation." 

These  repeated  raids  upon  Grant's  communications,  however,  so 
cut  off  his  means  of  supplies  that  he  was  finally  compelled  to  fall 
back  upon  Holly  Springs  until  the  road  from  Columbus  should  be 
rendered  secure.  And  thus  the  first  co-operative  movement  against 
Vicksburg  was  a  comparative  failure.  We  shall  see  many  more 
failures  in  the  campaign,  but  shall  find  a  man  undaunted  by  failures, 
able  to  wring  success  almost  out  of  impossibilities. 


OHAPTEE   XXIY. 

GEN.  SHERMAN'S  VICKSBURG  CAMPAIGN — THE  CONNECTION  OF  GEN.  MCCLERNAND  WITH 
IT- — ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  EXPEDITION — MCCLERNAND'S  CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THE 
SECRETARY  OF  WAR — LETTER  FROM  THE  PRESIDENT — CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  GEN. 
HALLECK  AND  GEN.  GRANT — GEN.  MCCLERNAND  ASSIGNED  TO  A  CORPS  AFTER  THE 
MOVEMENT  OF  THE  EXPEDITION — His  VOYAGE  DOWN  THE  RIVER — ASSIGNED  TO  COM 
MAND  THE  FORCES — LETTERS  FOR  GEN.  GRANT — GEN.  SHERMAN'S  FAILURE  ON  THE 
CHICKASAW  BAYOU — DETAILS  OF  THE  THREE  DAYS  BATTLE — DEATH  OF  GEN.  WYMAN — 
RETURN  OF  THE  FORCES — GEN.  MCCLERNAND  ASSUMES  COMMAND. 

WE  now  come  to  the  second  co-operative  demonstration  against 
Vicksburg,  the  expedition  of  General  Sherman.  It  is  due  to 
General  McClernand  to  state  that  he  had  labored  long  and  assidu 
ously  in  organizing  this  expedition,  and  in  fact  had  first  suggested  to 
the  Secretary  of  War,  in  an  elaborate  letter,  the  extreme  importance 
of  reducing  Vicksburg,  and  opening  the  Mississippi  River  to  the 
Gulf.  A  long  correspondence  passed  betwen  General  McClernand 
and  the  Department,  the  latter  mainly  adopting  his  suggestions  and 
urging  him  to  hasten  the  organization.  A  dispatch  from  the  Secre 
tary  of  War,  sent  on  the  29th  of  October,  indicated  the  importance 
of  moving  expeditiously,  so  as  to  co-operate  with  certain  movements 
in  the  east,  and  closed  as  follows : 

"You  will  apprise  me  of  your  wants,  which  will  be  promptly 
supplied  as  far  as  may  be  in  the  pow.er  of  the  Department.  For  your 
success,  time  and  diligence,  as  you  know,  are  important  elements. 
Every  confidence  is  reposed  in  your  skill  and  zeal,  and  I  long  to  see 
you  in  the  field,  striking  vigorous  blows  against  the  rebellion  in  its 
most  vital  point." 


4:36  PATRIOTISM  OF   ILLINOIS. 

The  President  and  Secretary  of  War  coincided  with  all  of  Gen, 
McClernand's  plans.  They  united  in  drafting  a  document  ordering 
him  to  organize  the  troops  remaining  in  Indiana,  Iowa  and  Illinois, 
and  forward  them  with  all  despatch  to  Memphis  and  Cairo,  to  the 
end  that  when  a  sufficient  force  not  required  by  the  operations  of 
General  Grant  was  assembled,  an  expedition  should  be  organized 
under  his  command  against  Yicksburg.  The  forces  thus  organized 
however,  were  "subject  to  the  designation  of  the  General-in-Chief," 
and  were  to  be  employed  "  according  to  such  exigences  as  the  ser 
vice  in  his  judgment  may  require."  This  document  was  endorsed, 
by  the  President  as  follows : 

"  This  order,  though  marked  confidential,  may  be  shown  by  Gen. 
McClernand  to  Governors  and  even  others,  when,  in  his  discretion, 
he  believes  so  doing  to  be  indispensable  to  the  progress  of  the  expe 
dition.  I  add  that  I  feel  deep  interest  in  the  success  of  the  expedi 
tion,  and  desire  it  to  be  pushed  forward  with  all  possible  dispatch, 
consistently  with  the  other  parts  of  the  military  service." 

It  was  evident  that  both  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War,  in 
spite  of  the  conditional  clauses  of  this  document,  expected  and  in 
tended  that  General  McClernand  was  to  command  the  expedition, 
and  the  General  himself  so  understood  it,  and  acted  accordingly. 
He  supposed  that  he  was  to  command  it  independently,  subject  only 
to  the  orders  of  the  General  in  Chief,  and  with  this  impression  upon 
Ms  mind,  at  once  visited  the  Governors  of  Indiana,  Illinois  and 
Iowa,  and  obtained  their  hearty  cooperation  in  organizing  the 
troops.  In  the  short  space  of  sixteen  days,  with  the  assistance  of 
the  Adjutant- General  of  Illinois,  he  had  completed  the  organization, 
mustered  and  forwarded  from  the  various  camps  in  Illinois,  six  reg 
iments  of  infantry  and  one  six  gun  battery  to  Columbus,  Ky.,  and 
six  more  regiments  and  one  six-gun  battery  to  Memphis,  besides 
five  regiments  from  Indiana  and  three  from  Iowa.  In  addition  to 
jhese,  there  was  another  regiment  of  infantry  in  Illinois  under 
marching  orders  and  three  others  in  the  same  state  were  ready  for 
muster,  and  two  other  regiments  of  infantry  in  Iowa.  Certain  influ 
ences  were  at  work,  however,  which  led  General  McClernand  to 
believe  that  General  Halleck  was  disposing  of  the  troops  in  other 
directions,  and  that  he  was  about  to  lose  the  command.  He  there- 


437 

fore  wrote  a  strong  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  expressing  the 
interest  he  felt  in  the  enterprise,  asking  that  his  connection  with  it 
should  be  severed,  and  that  he  might  be  ordered  to  other  duty  in 
the  field  at  once,  if  the  expedition  had  become  an  uncertainty  or 
must  be  long  delayed. 

In  another  communication  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated  -De 
cember  1,  1862,  he  stated  that  the  work  of  forwarding  troops  from 
Indiana,  Illinois  and  Iowa,  for  the  Mississippi  River  expedition,  had 
been  nearly  completed,  and  that  a  mustering,  pay  and  ordnance  offi 
cer  for  each  of  these  states  would  amply  suffice  to  close  up  the 
unfinished  business  in  each  of  them.  He  requested  therefore  to  be 
ordered  forward  to  Memphis,  or  such  other  rendezvous  as  the  Secre 
tary  should  think  preferable,  that  he  might  organize,  drill  and  disci 
pline  his  command  preparatory  to  an  early  and  successful  movement. 
Oix  the  12th  of  December  he  wrote  in  a  similar  strain  to  the  Presi 
dent,  and  on  the  16th  to  General  Halleck,  concluding  his  letter  as 
follows : 

"Having  substantially  accomplished  the  purpose  of  the  order 
sending  me  to  the  states  of  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Iowa,  by  forward 
ing  upwards  of  40,000  troops,  as  was  particularly  explained  in  my 
letter  of  the  1st  inst.  to  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  referred  by  him 
to  you,  I  beg  to  be  sent  forward  in  accordance  with  the  order  of  the 
Secretary  of  War,  on  the  21st  of  October,  giving  me  command  of 
the  Mississippi  expedition." 

Subsequently  General  McClernand  learned  that  General  Sherman 
had  left  for  Vicksburg  in  command  of  the  expedition,  and  at  once 
inquired  of  the  Secretary  of  War  if  he  had  been  superseded,  and 
requested  to  be  informed  "if  it  is  and  shall  be  so."  In  answer  to 
this,  a  dispatch  from  General  Halleck's  Assistant  Adjutant-General 
was  received  on  December  22d,  informing  General  McClernand  that 
on  the  18th,  the  following  telegram  had  been  transmitted  to  General 
Grant,  then  at  Oxford,  Miss. :  - 

"  The  troops  in  your  department,  including  those  from  General 
Curtis's  command  which  join  the  down  river  expedition,  will  be 
divided  into  four  Corps.  It  is  the  wish  of  the  President  that  Gen. 
McClernand's  Corps  shall  constitute  apart  of  the  river  expedition,  and 
that  he  shall  have  the  immediate  command  under  your  directions." 


4:38  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

General  Me  demand  did  not  look  upon  this  dispatch  as  relieving 
him  from  his  position  at  Springfield,  and  therefore  requested  of  the 
Secretary  of  War  to  order  him  forward.  Mr.  Stanton  at  once 
relieved  him  and  ordered  him  to  report  to  General  Grant  for  the 
purpose  specified  in  the  order  of  the  General-in-Chief.  This  corres 
pondence  detained  him  until  the  25th  of  December,  when  he  left 
with  his  staff  for  Cairo.  As  reports  were  rife  that  the  rebels  had 
again  obstructed  the  navigation  of  the  river,  he  took  with  him  a 
small  company  of  infantry  and  left  Cairo  for  the  south  on  the  26th. 
Upon  reaching  Memphis,  General  Hurlbut  informed  him  that  Gen. 
Sherman  had  left  Helena,  and  that  General  Grant  had  fallen  back 
to  Holly  Springs.  Two  of  his  staff  officers  were  immediately 
despatched  across  the  country  to  communicate  with  General  Grant. 
They  reached  there  that  night  and  were  informed  that  orders  assign 
ing  General  McClernand  to  the  immediate  command  of  the  expedi 
tion  had  been  forwarded  on  the  same  day  to  Memphis  by  the  train 
sent  there  under  General  Quimby;  General  Grant  also  remarked 
that  information  from  rebel  sources  had  been  received  by  General 
McPherson,  stating  that  Sherman  had  already  attacked  arid  captured 
Vicksburg. 

These  orders  were  received  by  General  McClernand  on  the  29th, 
and  consisted  of  two  letters,  one  dated  December  18,  1862,  inform 
ing  him  of  his  appointment  to  the  command  of  an  army  corps  in 
General  Grant's  department,  giving  him  command  of  the  Mississippi 
River  expedition,  and  ordering  that  the  written  instructions  given 
General  Sherman  shall  be  turned  over  to  McClernand  on  his  arrival 
at  Memphis. 

The  other  letter  was  dated  Holly  Springs,  December  2oth,  and  was 
directed  to  "  the  commanding  officer  of  the  expedition  down  the 
river,"  giving  sundry  details  concerning  his  own  position  and  some 
instructions  in  relation  to  future  plans.  Gen.  Grant  also  forwarded 
the  following  respecting  the  delay  in  sending  the  letter  of  the  18th  : 

"  This  letter  was  written  the  same  morning  the  dispatch  from  the 
General-in-Chief  was  received,  and  immediately  mailed,  but  when 
the  cars  got  as  far  as  Jackson,  they  found  they  could  proceed  no  fur 
ther.  Since  that  time  there  has  been  no  communication  with  the 
north  prior  to  the  day  of  Gen.  McClernand's  arrival." 


M'CLKIJNAXD — SIIEKMA.N.  439 

Leaving  Memphis  on  the  30th,  Gen.  McClernand  and  his  stuff 
arrived  at  Helena,  Arkansas,  and  under  convoy  of  a  ram,  as  the  river 
was  still  seriously  obstructed,  reached  Milliken's  Bend.  Gen.  Sher 
man,  who  had  abandoned  the  attack  on  Vicksburg  and  descended 
the  Yazoo,  came  on  board  the  steamer  to  turn  over  his  instructions 
to  Gen.  McClernand  and  to  consult  him  as  to  further  operations  of 
the  army.  On  the  4th  of  January,  Gen.  McClernand  assumed  com 
mand. 

We  have  thus  briefly  gone  over  the  connection  of  Gen.  McCler 
nand  with  the  Mississippi  expedition,  simply  presenting  facts  from 
official  sources,  leaving  the  reader  to  draw  his  own  inferences.  The 
narrative  would  be  incomplete  without  this  presentation  and  would 
leave  some  of  the  future  operations  of  Gen.  McClernand  also 
in  an  ambiguous  light.  -  Gen.  McClernand  is  an  able  and  gal 
lant  soldier,  and  through  his  personal  influence,  aided  by  such  a 
giant  as  Gen.  Logan,  did  much  to  secure  Southern  Illinois  against 
the  plots  of  secessionists  and  home  traitors,  and  rally  it  to  the  de 
fense  of  the  government.  This  episode,  therefore,  cannot  but  prove 
interesting  to  Illinois  readers,  and  furthermore,  the  simple  statement 
of  the  facts  in  the  case  is  due  to  one  who  has  done  so  much  for  the 
service,  and  who  was  largely  the  originator  of  the  campaign  against 
Vicksburg. 

We  now  return  to  the  operations  of  Gen.  Sherman,  while  this  cor 
respondence  was  going  on.  Gen.  Sherman  embarked  with  a  division 
of  troops  at  Memphis  and  dropped  down  to  Friar's  Point,  the  place 
of  rendezvous,  on  the  20th  of  December.  On  the  next  day  he  was 
joined  by  Admiral  Porter,  in  his  flag-ship,  the  main  body  of  the  naval 
force  being  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo  River.  On  the  same  evening 
the  troops  from  Helena  arrived  at  Friar's  Point.  On  the  22d  the 
fleet  got  under  way  and  reached  the  mouth  of  the  White  River  at 
sunset.  On  the  next  day  it  descended  to  Gaines's  Landing,  to  await 
the  arrival  of  transports  in  the  rear  and  also  a  division  of  troops 
from  Memphis.  On  the  night  of  the  24th  and  the  evening  of  the 
25th,  the  fleet  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yazoo.  On  the  26th, 
the  expedition,  under  convoy  of  the  gunboats,  moved  up  the  Yazoo, 
and  the  troops  were  landed  after  much  difficulty,  owing  to  the 
character  of  the  ground,  but  without  any  opposition  on  the  part 


440  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

of  the  enemy.  The  first  troops  landed  were  a  brigade  under  Gen. 
Blair,  of  Gen.  Steele's  division,  and  a  brigade  from  each  of  the  di 
visions,  under  Gens.  M.  L.  Smith  and  Morgan.  These  were  ordered 
out  on  a  reconnoissance,  Gen.  Blair  on  the  left  and  the  other  brigades 
on  the  right.  The  brigade  from  Smith's  division  captured  some  of 
the  enemy's  pickets,  and  the  brigade  from  Morgan's  division  found 
the  enemy  with  a  battery  on  the  right,  two  miles  from  the  river. 
After  a  slight  skirmish  they  countermarched  and  returned  to  the 
front,  as  Gen.  Sherman  had  given  positive  orders  that  no  engage 
ment  should  be  brought  on  that  evening. 

It  will  facilitate  the  comprehension  of  this  battle  to  briefly  nar 
rate  the  position.  The  defenses  of  Vicksburg  consisted  of  two 
rivers  and  a  chain  of  bluffs.  The  shape  of  the  position  may  be 
likened  to  a  horse-shoe,  with  one  side  prolonged  and  a  bar  joining 
the  extremities  of  this  irregular  curve.  The  curve  formed  by  the 
Yazoo  and  Mississippi  rivers  is  the  bow,  and  the  chain  of  bluffs  run 
ning  inland  from  Vicksburg  to  Raines's  Bluff  is  me  bar.  The  former 
was  our  line  of  approach,  and  the  latter,  the  rebel  line  of  defense. 
The  intervening  space  was  low  and  swampy,  and  crowded  with 
lagoons,  bayous,  and  quicksands. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  the  whole  army  was  drawn  up  in  line 
of  battle  and  ready  to  assault.  Gen.  Steele's  division  was  on  the 
left,  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith's  on  the  right,  Gen.  Morgan's  on  the  left 
center,  and  Gen.  M.  L.  Smith's  on  the  right  center.  Gen.  M.  L. 
Smith's  division  took  the  advance  and  moved  rapidly  on  the  enemy, 
meeting  them  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  from  Chickasaw  bayou. 
Skirmishing  immediately  began  and  was  kept  up  during  the  remain 
der  of  the  day,  the  enemy  making  a  stout  resistance  but  being  grad- 
ally  pushed  back  to  the  bayou. 

On  the  evening  before,  a  part  of  Gen.  Steele's  division  had  been 
re-embarked  on  transports  and  landed  on  the  bayou,  for  the  purpose 
of  attempting  to  take  a  battery  in  the  rear  which  commanded  the 
only  point  where  the  bayou  could  be  crossed  on  the  extreme  right. 
While  Gen.  M.  L.  Smith's  division  was  skirmishing  with  the  enemy 
on  the  right  center,  Gen.  Blair's  brigade  and  Gen.  Morgan's  division 
had  advanced  on  the  left  by  different  routes,  and  came  into  position 
side  by  side.  Skirmishing  took  place  with  the  enemy's  infantry  and 


CHICKASAW   BAYOU.  441 

at  the  same  time  a  masked  battery  opened  on  Gen.  Blair's  brigade 
which  was  silenced  shortly  after,  the  enemy's  infantry  retreating  into 
a  thicket  not  far  off.  During  the  afternoon  a  dashing  charge  was 
made  upon  the  rebel  artillerists  by  the  13th  and  16th  Illinois  infantry, 
under  the  lamented  Gen.  Wyman.  By  nightfall  the  enemy  had  been 
driven  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  where  they  were  first  encountered, 
and  the  contest  ceased.  During  the  night  the  rebels  strengthened 
and  enlarged  their  line  of  defense  and  also  received  reinforcements. 

On  Sunday,  the  28th,  the  enemy  commenced  the  battle  at  daylight 
by  a  heavy  cannonade  on  Gen.  Blair's  brigade  and  Gen.  Morgan's 
division.  Batteries  were  brought  into  position  on  our  side  and  a 
sharp  exchange  of  shrapnel  and  shell  ensued.  Finding  that  the 
rebels  were  disposed  to  dispute  the  possession  of  the  ground,  prepa 
rations  were  made  for  a  charge.  Gen.  Blair,  with  his  brigade,  and 
Gen.  Wyman,  with  the  13th  and  16th  Illinois  regiments  were  drawn 
up  in  readiness  for  the  charge,  supported  by  Morgan  L.  Smith  on  the 
right.  Gen.  Wyman  had  just  drawn  his  sword  and  given  the  order 
to  advance,  when  he  was  struck  by  a  minnie  ball  and  disabled.  After 
a  temporary  confusion,  Lieut.-Col.  Gorgas,  of  the  13th  Illinois,  took 
command  and  Gen.  Blair  led  the  brigades  in  a  gallant  charge  which 
drove  the  rebels  from  their  position.  Gen.  Wyman  was  mortally 
wounded  and  expired  m  the  arms  of  one  of  his  attendants  on  the 
field.  He  was  a  gallant  and  accomplished  officer  and  universally 
beloved  in  the  army. 

At  the  same  time  the  conflict  was  pressed  by  M.  L.  Smith's  divi 
sion.  While  riding  in  the  advance,  seeking  for  a  place  where  the 
bayou  might  be  crossed,  he  was  fired  at  by  a  party  of  the  enemy 
concealed  in  a  neighboring  cane-brake  and  severely  wounded.  The 
command  then  devolved  temporarily  upon  Gen.  David  Stuart,  who 
kept  up  during  the  day  a  constant  skirmishing  with  the  enemy's 
forces.  There  seamed  to  have  been  no  distinct  plan  of  battle  that 
day,  the  whole  operations  being  a  series  of  skirmishes  in  which  we 
both  gained  and  lost  ground. 

On  the  29th  the  rebel  batteries  opened  on  Gen.  Morgan,  the  posi 
tion  being  as  follows :  Gen.  Morgan  on  the  right  of  Gen.  Blair,  next, 
to  him  Gen.  Stuart  commanding  M.  L.  Smith's  division,  and  on  the 
extreme  right,  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith.  The  day  was  full  of  misfortunes. 


PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Gen.  Sherman  had  appointed  no  hour  for  the  assault,  but  by  order 
of  Gen.  Morgan,  Gen.  Blair  advanced,  Gen.  Thayer  coming  up  to  his 
support.  In  crossing  the  ditch  and  making  its  way  through  the 
abattis,  Gen.  Blair's  brigade  was  thrown  into  confusion,  but  rallied 
and  moved  upon  the  rebel  works,  carrying  two  lines  of  rifle  pits. 
Simultaneously  with  Gen.  Blair's  advance,  Gen.  Thayer  was  ordered 
forward.  He  crossed  the  same  ditch,  made  his  way  through  the 
same  abattis,  and  came  out  to  the  right  of  Gen.  Blair.  As  he  reached 
the  rifle  pits,  however,  he  found  he  had  but  one  regiment  with  him. 
After  his  movement  commenced,  the  second  regiment  of  his  brigade 
had  been  sent  to  the  right  of  Gen.  Morgan  as  a  support,  and  the  other 
regiments  had  followed  this  one.  Notice  of  this  change  of  march 

O  O 

of  the  second  regiment,  although  sent  to  Gen.  Thayer,  failed  to  reach 
him.  Bravely  pushing  forward,  however,  he  occupied  the  rifle  pits 
and  then  hurried  back  for  reinforcements.  Gen.  Blair  also  vainly 
waiting  for  support,  descended  the  hill  to  hasten  up  troops.  While 
urging  the  advance  of  more  troops,  his  brigade  fought  desperately 
to  gain  the  crest  of  the  hill.  A  short  distance  above  the  second  line 
of  rifle  pits  was  a  cluster  of  willows  into  which  the  rebel  riflemen 
had  retired.  The  13th  Illinois  charged  into  it,  and  after  a  gallant 
hand  to  hand  struggle,  drove  the  rebels  out.  But  the  position  was 
too  much  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire  to  hold  without  reinforcements. 
The  latter  did  not  arrive,  and  Gens.  Blair  and  Thayer  were  compelled 
to  issue  the  order  to  retire.  The  division  of  Gen.  Morgan  was  not 
brought  over  the  bayou  in  time  to  engage  in  the  assault.  Only  one 
regiment  of  Gen.  Stuart's  division  got  across.  No  notice  of  the  in 
tended  movement  on  the  left  had  been  given  to  the  division  com 
manders  on  the  right.  Smith's  division  was  so  near  Vicksburg  and 
the  strength  of  the  enemy  before  him  so  great,  that  an  assault  would 
have  been  fruitless,  and  thus  the  day  ended  in  defeat,  although  our 
troops  had  fought  with  the  most  desperate  gallantry  in  the  face  of 
fearful  odds,  for  the  whole  assault  was  made  by  about  three  thou 
sand  men.  The  13th  Illinois  were  the  heroes  of  the  day.  They 
fought  with  magnificent  bravery,  reckless  of  all  danger,  plunging 
through  the  most  terrific  storms  of  shot  and  shell,  and  holding  posi 
tions  like  Spartans,  when  they  were  exposed  to  a  most  pitiless  fire 
from  the  batteries  against  which  their  own  was  perfectly  harmless. 


GENERAL    WYMAN.  443 

Private  F.  W.  Taylor,  of  Belleville,  111.,  was  promoted  on  the  field 
for  bravery. 

On  Tuesday  desultory  firing  was  kept  up  and  on  Wednesday  a 
flasr  of  truce  was  sent  in  and  General  Sherman  buried  his  dead. 

o 

Afterwards  an  arrangement  was  made  with  Admiral  Porter  to  attack 
Haines'  Bluff,  but  the  purpose  became  known  to  the  enemy  and  it 
was  abandoned.  On  Thursday  night  and  Friday  morning,  January 
2,  1863,  the  troops  were  embarked  and  moved  down  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Yazoo,  when  General  McClernand  took  command,  who  or 
dered  the  forces  to  Milliken's  Bend.  Thus  the  .second  great  co-oper 
ative  movement  to  reduce  Vicksburg  had  failed. 

The  circumstances  of  General  Wyman's  death  were  as  follows : 
He  had  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  13th  Illinois,  which  was 
detailed  to  assist  in  the  charge  upon  the  battery.  The  entire  regi 
ment,  officers  and  all,  was  moving  up  an  eminence  towards  the  bat 
tery.  His  regiment  had  succeeded  in  unmanning  two  of  the  guns 
and  had  arrived  within  eighty  yards  of  the  battery,  when  General 
TVyman  raised  up,  lifting  his  sword  in  the  air,  and  was  about  giving 
the  order  to  charge  on  the  battery.  At  that  instant,  he  was  struck 
in  the  side  of  the  right  breast,  directly  under  the  sword  arm.  The 
ball  passed  through  the  body,  coming  out  just  below  the  ribs  on  the 
left  side.  The  fall  of  the  General  paralyzed  the  regiment.  Lieut. - 
Colonel  Gorgas  and  others  rushed  to  his  assistance.  The  General 
raised  himself  and  seeing  that  his  force  wavered,  said  to  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Gorgas:  "For  God's  sake,  Colonel,  leave  me  and  attend  to 
these  men."  The  Colonel  left  him,  rallied  the  men  and  took  the 
battery.  General  "Wyman  for  a  number  of  years  was  at  the  head 
of  the  old  Chicago  Light  Guard,  when  that  organization  was  at  the 
hight  of  its  fame.  He  entered  the  service  as  Colonel  of  the  13th 
Illinois,  and  was  for  some  time  commandant  of  the  post  at  Kolla, 
Mo.  For  meritorious  services  and  bravery  in  the  field,  the  Presi 
dent  commissioned  him  a  Brigadier-General.  He  was  every  inch  a 
soldier,  and  was  deeply  beloved  by  his  old  regiment  and  all  of  the 
army  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 


OHAPTEE   XXV. 

GEN.  MCCLERNAND  ASSUMES  COMMAND  OF  THE  ARMY  OP  THE  MISSISSIPPI — THE  MILI 
TARY  SITUATION — GENERAL  ORDER  No.  1 — SUBMISSION  OF  PLAN  TO  GEN.  GRANT — 
THE  MOVEMENT  AGAINST  ARKANSAS  POST — NATURE  OF  THE  POSITION — ILLINOIS  REGI 
MENTS  IN  THE  EXPEDITION — PRELIMINARY  RECONNOISSANCE — THE  ATTACK  UPON  THE 
FORT — ITS  SURRENDER — DETAILS  OF  THE  BATTLE — EXTRACTS  FROM  GENT.  McCLER- 
NAND'S  REPORT — His  ORDER  OF  CONGRATULATION — THE  VIEWS  OF  THE  PRESIDENT — 
CORRESPONDENCE  BETWEEN  GOT.  YATES  AND  GEN.  MCCLERNAND. 

ON  the  4th  of  January,  1863,  Gen.  McClernand,  in  pursuance  *f 
orders,  assumed  the  command  of  the  army,  styling  it  the 
Army  of  the  Mississippi,  and  issued  General  Order  No.  1,  continuing 
Gens.  Sherman  and  Morgan  in  command,  prohibiting  interference 
with  private  property,  prescribing  punishment  for  straggling,  and 
covering  the  customary  details  relative  to  supplies  and  reports  of 
corps  commanders.  The  situation  at  this  juncture  was  substantially 
as  follows  :  General  Grant  had  failed  to  oarry  out  his  plan  of  push 
ing  forward  from  Oxford  to  Grenada,  and  had  fallen  back  to  Holly 
Springs.  General  Sherman's  attack  on  Vicksburg  had  been  re 
pulsed.  General  Banks  was  debarred  from  affording  co-operation 
with  the  up  river  movements  by  the  obstinate  resistance  of  the 
enemy  at  Port  Hudson.  In  addition,  the  enemy  at  Yicksburg  had 
been  strongly  reinforced  and  our  own  army  was  hardly  in  condition  to 
move  upon  the  latter  place.  General  McClernand  therefore  adopted 
a  new  plan  which  he  submitted  to  General  Grant  by  letter,  the  prin 
cipal  features  of  which  were  the  following : 

General  Grant  was  to  make  Memphis  his  base  of  operations,  put 
the  road  from  Memphis  to  Grenada  in  running  order,  and  push  for 
ward  with  his  column  to  the  latter  place  and  to  Jackson,  thence 
marching  upon  the  rear  of  Vicksburg,  while  General  Banks'  forces 


THE    MOVEMENT.  445 

and  the  army  of  the  Mississippi  should  co-operate  as  was  best 
found  to  be  practicable.  The  peculiar  military  situation  of  General 
Grant  would  render  an  answer  improbable  for  several  weeks.  In 
the  meantime,  while  waiting  for  orders,  General  Me  demand  deter 
mined  to  strike  a  blow  at  the  enemy  near  the  mouth  of  the  Arkan 
sas  river,  then  seriously  threatening  communication  between  Mem 
phis  and  Yicksburg.  Fort  Hindman,  better  known  as  Arkansas  Post, 
the  key  to  Little  Rock  and  the  extensive  country  drained  by  the 
Arkansas  river,  was  the  point  aimed  at.  In  the  two  corps  which 
comprised  this  army  were  the  following  Illinois'  regiments  :  13th, 
113th,  116th,  35th,  127th,  77th,  97th,  108th,  131st  and  118th  regi 
ments  of  infantry;  the  3d  Illinois  cavalry,  one  company  of  the  15th 
and  two  companies  of  Thielman's  Illinois  battalion ;  companies  A 
and  B,  1st  Illinois  Light  Artillery,  and  the  Mercantile  Battery,  Cap 
tain  Cooley.  The  army  safely  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  White 
River  on  the  8th  of  January  and  commenced  landing,  the  work  of 
disembarkation  being  concluded  at  noon  of  the  10th. 

In  the  meantime  General  McClernand  had  reconnoitered  the  river 
road  and  a  part  of  the  levee  within  a  short  distance  of  the  fort,  and 
discovered  that  the  enemy  was  abandoning  a  line  of  rifle-pits  about 
half  a  mile  above  the  levee,  under  the  heavy  fire  of  our  gunboats. 
General  Sherman's  column  was  put  in  motion,  and  after  meeting  and 
dispersing  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy's  pickets,  the  head  of  the 
column,  General  Hovey's  brigade,  encountered  a  swamp  which  was 
crossed  with  much  difficulty.  Witnessing  the  embarrassment  of  the 
troops  in  crossing,  General  McClernand  reconnoitered  to  test  the 
practicability  of  the  "river  road.  This  road  was  found  not  only 
practicable  but  good,  and  the  other  division  of  General  Sherman's 
corps,  commanded  by  General  Stuart,  passed  up  this  road.  The 
rear  of  General  Steel's  division,  consisting  of  General  Blair's  bri 
gade  which  had  crossed  the  swamp,  was  obliged  to  return,  as  any 
further  approach  to  the  fort  could  only  be  gained  by  a  detour  of 
seven  miles,  and  the  passage  of  a  bayou  by  a  single  narrow  bridge. 
General  Sherman  then  hastened  up  the  river  road  to  General 
Stuart's  division  of  his  corps,  the  head  of  which  he  found  resting 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  fort.  General  Morgan's  corps  rapidly  ad 
vanced  in  the  same  direction  and  General  A.  J.  Smith's  division 


M6  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

soon  made  its  appearance  on  the  right  of  Stuart.  General  Sherman 
was  ordered  to  move  Stuart's  division  to  the  right,  and  General 
Steele's  when  it  should  come  up  still  further  to  the  right,  to  let  in 
General  Smith's  and  General  Osterhaus's  divisions  on  the  left  so  that 
the  investment  might  be  complete.  General  McClernand  then  com 
municated  with  Admiral  Porter,  and  the  gunboats  moved  forward, 
opening  a  furious  cannonade  upon  the  fort  which  was  continued 
until  after  nightfall,  thus  diverting  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from 
the  movements  of  the  land  forces.  During  the  night  General  Sher 
man's  corps  was  pushed  forward  to  the  bayou.  General  Oster- 
haus  took  a  position  covering  the  landing  and  the  transports,  and 
Colonel  Lindsay's  brigade  had  planted  a  battery  on  the  river  bank 
above  the  fort,  thus  cutting  off  escape  or  reinforcement  of  the  enemy 
by  water. 

At  half-past  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  llth,  the  two  corps 
were  in  position.  General  Stecle's  division  had  the  extreme  right, 
with  General  Stuart's  and  A.  J.  Smith's  division  on  its  left.  One 
brigade  of  General  Osterhaus's  division  formed  the  extreme  left  of 
the  line  resting  upon  the  river.  Colonel  De  Courcey's  brigade  of 
the  same  division  was  held  in  reserve.  The  artillery  was  disposed 
as  follows:  Co.  A,  1st  Regiment  Illinois  Light  Artillery,  Captain 
Wood  commanding,  to  the  left  of  Stuart;  Co.  B  of  the  same  regi 
ment,  Captain  Barrett  commanding,  on  {lie  center  of  the  same  divi 
sion;  the  4th  Ohio  between  Stuart  and  Steele  and  the  1st  Ohio 
between  Thayer's  and  Hovey's  brigades  of  Steele's  division;  the  1st 
Missouri  was  in  reserve  and  the  8th  Ohio  in  the  rear  of  the  center  of 
the  general  line.  Three  pieces  of  the  17th  Ohio  battery  were  in 
front  of  Landrum's  brigade  of  General  .Smith's  division  and  two 
sections  of  the  Mercantile  battery  of  Chicago  were  with  Colonel 
Lindsay. 

Word  was  sent  to  Admiral  Porter  that  General  McClernand 
would  advance  upon  the  enemy's  works  as  soon  as  the  gunboats 
opened  fire.  At  one  o'clock  they  opened  fire,  which  was  imme 
diately  followed  by  the  fire  of  artillery  along  both  the  right  and  left 
wings  of  the  line.  At  half-past  one  o'clock,  Hovey's  and  Thayer's 
brigades  of  General  Sherman's  corps,  and  T.  E.  Smith's  and  Giles 
M.  Smith's  brigades  of  the  same  gained  a  position  near  the  enemy's 


THE    ASSAULT.  44:7 

rifle  pits.  Checked  for  a  time  by  a  severe  fire  of  musketry,  they  after 
wards  advanced,  supported  by  Blair's  brigade  as  a  reserve,  until  they 
had  approached  within  short  musket  range  of  the  enemy's  line  and 
found  shelter  within  some  ravines.  In  executing  this  movement 
General  Hovey  was  wounded  by  the  fragment  of  a  shell,  but  con 
tinued  on  the  field.  Hoffman's  battery  was  advanced  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  intrenchments  and  poured  in  a  rapid 
and  effective  fire..  The  artillery  of  General  Morgan's  corps  opened 
fire  at  one  o'clock,  and  kept  it  up  with  telling  effect — some  20-poun- 
der  Parrotts  on  the  river  bank,  silencing  a  heavy  casemated  gun  and 
some  lighter  barbette  guns  on  one  of  the  bastions.  Blount's  Parrotts 
kept  up  a  rapid  fire  into  the  enemy's  lines  until  A.  J.  Smith's  divi 
sion  had  passed  to  the  front  and  rear  of  the  enemy's  works.  Nine 
regiments  detached  from  this  division,  and  supported  by  three 
regiments  in  reserve,  moved  forward  and  drove  the  enemy's  ad 
vance  toward  the  open  ground  in  front  of  his  defences,  when  they 
sought  shelter  behind  some  cabins.  The  3d  Wisconsin  charged  and 
.dislodged  them,  forcing  them  to  flee  to  their  intrenchments.  The 
same  regiment  then  moved  forward  until  within  two  hundred  yards 
of  the  fort. 

In  the  meantime  Colonel  Sheldon  under  General  Osterhaus's 
direction  ordered  up  the  Chicago  Mercantile  battery  within  two 
hundred  yards  of  the  enemy's  defences  and  deployed  the  118th 
Illinois  on  its  right  and  massed  the  120th  Ohio  on  its  left,  the  69th 
Indiana  being  in  reserve.  The  enemy  poured  a  galling  fire  into 
them,  to  which  our  infantry  and  artillery  promptly  replied  until  the 
rifle-pits  in  front  of  the  latter  were  nearly  cleared.  The  120th  Ohio 
sprang  forward  to  carry  the  eastern  face  of  the  fort,  but  failed  in 
the  attempt.  At  this  juncture  Colonel  De  Courcey's  brigade,  which 
had  been  left  to  cover  the  transports,  was  ordered  up.  At  half-past 
three  o'clock  General  Sherman  was  reinforced  by  the  23d  Wiscon- 
son,  19th  Kentucky,  and  97th  Illinois  from  General  Smith's  division, 
and  took  position  on  the  right.  The  engagement  being  sharp  on 
both  sides  General  McClernand  ordered  the  assault.  Burbridge's 
brigade  and  the  12th  Ohio  dashed  forward  under  a  heavy  fire  to  the 
enemy's  intrenchments — the  16th  Indiana,  83d  and  120th  Ohio  being 
the  first  to  enter  the  fort.  Presenting  himself  at  the  entrance  to  the 


4:4:8  PATRIOTISM   OP   ILLINOIS. 

fort,  General  Bui-bridge  was  halted  by  the  guard  who  denied  that 
the  fort  had  been  surrendered,  until  he  called  their  attention  to  the 
white  flag,  and  ordered  them  to  ground  arms.  Soon  after,  meeting 
General  Churchill  commanding  the  fort,  the  latter  had  an  inter 
view  with  General  Me  demand  and  surrendered. 

We  quote  from  the  elaborate  and  lucid  report  of  General  McCler- 
nand,  the  closing  scenes  in  the  reduction  of  Arkansas  Post : 

"  Further  to  the  enemy's  left  his  intrenchments  were  stormed  by 
General  Sherman's  command,  who  immediate] y  ordered  General 
Steele  whose  zeal  and  daring,  added  to  his  previous  renown,  to  push 
forward  one  of  his  brigades  along  the  bayou  and  cut  off  the  enemy's 
escape  in  that  direction. 

Colonel  Lindsay,  as  soon  as  a  gunboat  had  passed  above  the  fort 
hastened  with  his  brigade  down  the  opposite  shore,  and  opened  an 
oblique  fire  from  Foster's  two  twenty  and  Lieutenant  Wilson's  two 
ten-pounder  Parrotts  into  the  enemy's  line  of  rifle-pits,  carrying 
away  his  battle  flag  and  killing  a  number  of  his  men.  Eager  to  do 
still  more,  he  embarked  the  3d  Kentucky  on  board  of  one  of  the 
gunboats  to  cross  the  river  to  the  fort,  but  before  it  got  over,  the 
enemy  had  surrendered. 

"  Thus  at  half-past  four  o'clock,  after  three  and  a  half  hours'  hard 
fighting,  our  forces  entered  and  took  possession  of  all  the  enemy's 
defences. 

"  To  General  Morgan,  I  assigned  the  command  of  the  fort,  who, 
as  a  token  of  the  conspicuous  merit  of  General  A.  J.  Smith,  through 
out  the  action,  assigned  it  to  that  officer.  To  General  Sherman  I 
gave  in  charge  all  the  other  defences  and  the  prisoners  outside  the 
fort,  who,  in  like  manner,  honored  General  Stuart,  by  giving  them 
into  his  charge. 

"  Seven  stands  of  colors  were  captured  including  the  garrison  fla* 
which  was  captured  by  Captain  Ennis,  one  of  General  Smith's 
aides-de-camp.  General  Burbridge  planted  the  American  flag  upon 
the  fort,  which  had  been  placed  in  his  hands  as  a  tribute  to  his  gal 
lantry  by  General  Smith  for  that  purpose.  Besides  these,  five  thou 
sand  prisoners,  seventeen  pieces  of  cannon  large  and  small,  ten  gun- 
carriages  and  eleven  limbers,  three  thousand  stand  of  small  arms, 
exclusive  of  many  lost  or  destroyed,  one  hundred  and  thirty  swords, 


RESULTS  OF  THE   VICTORY.  449 

fifty  Colt's  pistols,  forty  cans  of  powder,  one  thousand  six  hundred 
and  fifty  rounds  of  shot,  shell  and  canister  for  10  and  20-pounder 
Parrott  guns,  three  hundred  and  seventy-five  shells,  grape  stands  and 
canister ;  forty-six  thousand  rounds  of  ammunition  for  small  arms  ; 
five  hundred  and  sixty-three  animals,  together  with  a  considerable 
quantity  of  quarter-master's  and  commissary  stores,  fell  into  our 
hands.  Of  these  captures  seven  pieces  of  cannon  had  been  des 
troyed  by  the  fire  of  our  artillery  and  the  gunboats,  besides  one 
hundred  and  seventy  wagons  which  were  destroyed  for  want  of 
m-jans  to  bring  them  away. 

"  Our  loss  in  killed  was  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine,  in  wounded 
eight  hundred  and  thirty-one,  in  missing,  seventeen — in  all,  killed, 
wounded  and  missing,  nine  hundred  and  seventy-seven ;  while  that 
of  the  enemy,  notwithstanding  the  protection  afforded  by  his  de 
fences,  proportionately  to  his  numbers,  was  much  larger. 

"  The  prisoners  of  war  I  forwarded  to  the  commissioner  for  the 
exchange  of  prisoners  at  St.  Louis ;  and  utterly  destroying  all  of 
the  enemy's  defences,  together  with  all  the  buildings  used  by  him 
for  military  purposes,  I  re-embarked  my  command  and  sailed  for 
Milliken's  Bend  on  the  17th  inst.,  in  obedience  to  General  Grant's 
orders. 

"  Noticing  the  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  who  took  part  in 
the  battle  of  the  Arkansas,  I  must  refer  to  the  reports  of  corps, 
division,  brigade  and  regimental  commanders  for  particular  mention 
of  those  who  signalized  their  merit,  but  in  doing  so  I  cannot  forbear 
in  justice  to  add  my  tribute  to  the  general  zeal  and  capability  of  the 
former  and  the  valor  and  constancy  of  the  latter.  Gen.  Sherman 
exhibited  his  usual  activity  and  enterprise,  General  Morgan  proved 
his  tactical  skill  and  strategic  talent,  whilst  Generals  Steele,  Smith, 
Osterhaus  and  Stuart,  and  the  several  brigade  commanders  dis 
played  the  fitting  qualities  of  brave  and  successful  commanders. 
The  members  of  my  staff  present,  Colonel  Stewart,  Chief  of  Cav 
alry,  Lieut.-Col.  Schwartz,  Inspector-General,  Lieut.-Col.  Dunlap, 
Assistant  Quartermaster,  Major  McMiller,  Medical  Director,  Major 
Ramsey,  Capt.  Freeman  and  Lieuts.  Jones,  Caldwell  and  Jaynes, 
aids-de-camp,  all  rendered  valuable  assistance.  Lieut.  Caldwell, 
who  ascended  into  the  top  of  a  lofty  tree  in  full  view  of  the  enemy 
29 


4:50  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

and  within  range  of  his  fire,  and  gave  me  momentary  information  of 
the  operations  both  of  our  hind  and  naval  forces  and  of  the  enemy, 
particularly  challenged  my  commendation  and  thanks.  To  Colonel 
Parsons,  A.  Q.  M.  and  master  of  transports,  I  also  offer  my  ac 
knowledgements  not  only  for  the  successful  discharge  of  arduous 
duties  in  his  department  but  also  for  important  services  as  a  volunteer 
aide  in  bearing  orders  in  the  face  of  danger  on  the  field,  and  to 
Major  Williams,  Surgeon  of  the  2d  Illinois  light  artillery,  I  am  also 
indebted  for  professional  usefulness.  *  *  *  *  While  mourning 
the  loss  of  the  dead,  and  sympathizing  with  the  bereavement  of 
their  kindred  and  friends  and  the  sufferings  of  the  wounded,  we 
should  offer  our  heart  felt  gratitude  to  almighty  God  for  the  com 
plete  success  vouchsafed  to  our  arms  in  so  just  a  cause." 

Following  so  closely  upon  the  defeat  before  Vicksburg,  which  had 
depressed  the  whole  country,  the  battle  aud  victory  of  Arkansas 
Post  were  a  lifting  of  the  clouds.  It  proved  conclusively  that  the 
army  was  not  demoralized  by  misfortune,  that -its  courage  was  un 
shaken  and  its  determination  to  hew  its  way  through  to  the  Gulf  still 
irresistible.  Loyal  men  breathed  more  freely  and  once  more  augured 
final  success.  The  army  itself  began  to  assume  new  spirit  and 
moral  courage  by  contrasting  the  victory  just  achieved  with  its 
recent  disaster.  The  President  expressed  his  thanks  to  General 
McClernand  and  his  brave  troops  for  this  victory,  gained  at  a  time 
when  "disaster  after  disaster  was  befalling  our  arms,"  closing  his 
letter  with  these  words:  "Your  success  on  the  Arkansas  was  both 
brilliant  and  valuable,  and  is  fully  appreciated  by  the  country  and 
government."  Illustrative,  also,  of  the  estimation  in  which  General 
McClernand  and  his  army  were  held  is  the  following  incident  with 
accompanying  correspondence  :  One  of  the  pieces  captured,  a  Par- 
rott  gun  with  its  muzzle  broken  off  and  the  carriage  shattered  by  a 
shot  from  our  batteries,  was  sent  by  Gen.  McClernand  to  Governor 
Yates,  in  behalf  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  Accompanying  the  piece, 
Governor  Yates  received  the  following  letter  from  Gen.  McClernand : 

"HEADQUARTERS  13th  ARMY  CORPS,  ) 
"Milliken's  Bend,  March  16,  1863.       J 
"  His  Excellency,  Richard  Yates,  Governor  of  Illinois  : 

"I  have  the  honor  to  send  you  a  broken  Parrott  piece  captured  by  the  force 
under  my  command  at  Post  Arkansas.  The  piece  was  broken  by  a  shot  from  one 


AN    INTERESTING    EPISODE.  451 

•of  the  guns  of  my  batteries.  Flease  accept  it  on  behalf  of  the  noble  State  you  so 
worthily  represent,  us  an  humble  testimonial  of  the  esteem  and  admiration  of  the 
brave  men  whose  valor  wrested  it  as  a  trophy  from  the  enemy. 

"Your  obedient  servant,  JOHN  A.  MCCLERNAND, 

*'  Major-General  Commanding." 

To  this  letter  Governor  Yates  replied  as  follows : 

"  STATE  OP  ILLINOIS,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT,  ) 
"Springfield,  April  2,  1863.       J 

"  Major-  General  John  A.  Me  demand,   Viekxburg,  Miss.: 

"  MY  DEAR  GENERAL  : — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  broken 
Parrott  gun,  captured  by  the  army  under  your  command,  at  Arkansas  Post,  and  to 
express  my  acknowledgments  in  the  name  of  the  people  of  the  State  therefor. 

"It  also  gives  me  great  pride  and  satisfaction  to  do  so,  from  the  fact  that  I  regard 
the  victory  at.  Arkansas  Post  gained  under  the  able  and  energetic  generalship  of  a 
distinguished  officer  and  citizen  of  Illinois,  as  second  in  importance  and  consequence 
only  to  that  of  Fort  Donelson,  in  which  that  officer  also  prominently  participated. 

"Fort  Donelson  and  Arkansas  Post,  my  dear  General,  I  regard  as  the  two  great, 
positive  victories  of  the  war  in  the  West.  May  your  participation  in  the  third  be 
equally  prominent  and  attended  by  as  glorious  results  and  substantial  advantages. 

"  With  sentiments  of  respect  and  esteem,  I  am,  my  dear  General,  your  most  obcdi 
ent  servant.  RICHARD  YATES,  Governor." 

The  congratulatory  order  of  Gen.  McClernand,  on  this  occasion, 
which  was  issued  by  him  the  day  after  the  battle,  was  as  follows : 

"HEADQUARTERS  13th  ARMY  CORPS,  ) 
"Before  Vicksburg,  February  13,  1863.       j" 

"His  Excellency,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President,  and  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Army  and  Navy  of  the  United  States,  having  honored  Major-General  McClernand 
and  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  army  of  the  Mississippi  with  congratulations 
upon  their  success  on  the  Arkansas,  Major-General  McClernand  feels  it  to  be  equally 
a  duty  and  pleasure  to  publish  the  fact,  together  with  the  encouraging  assurance  of 
his  Excellency,  that  'that  success  was  both  brilliant  and  valuable,  and  is  fully  ap 
preciated  by  the  country  and  government.' " 

General  Grant  and  staff  arrived  at  the  Post  a  few  days  after  the 
battle  had  been  fought  and  won ;  and  Gen.  McClernand,  who  in 
tended  to  take  advantage  of  the  rise  in  the  river  for  striking  a  deci 
sive  blow  at  the  rebels  at  Little  Rock,  the  capital  of  the  State  of 
Arkansas,  was  peremptorily  ordered  by  Gen.  Grant  to  return  with 
his  army  to  Young's  Point,  opposite  Vicksburg,  for  the  purpose  of 
digging  out  and  enlarging  the  canal  projected  and  commenced  by 
<jren.  Williams  and  Admiral  Farragut  in  1862. 


OHAPTEE    XXYI. 

GEN.  GRANT'S  DESCENT  OP  THK  MISSISSIPPI — THE  NEW  PLAN  OF  OPERATIONS  AGAINST 
VICKSBURG — CANAL  DIGGING — THE  WILLIAMS,  LAKE  PROVIDENCE  AND  MOON  LAKE 
CANALS — THEIR  FAILURES — THE  STEELE'S  BAYOU  EXPEDITION  AND  ITS  FAILURE — 
GENERAL  MCCLERNAND'S  MOVEMENT  DOWN  THE  WEST  BANK  OF  THE  RIVER — CAPTURE 
OF  RICHMOND — DIFFICULTIES  OF  THE  MARCH — RUNNING  THE  BATTERIES — THE  ILLI 
NOIS  VOLUNTEERS — FAILURE  OF  THE  MOVEMENT  AGAINST  GRAND  GULF — RUNNING  THE 
BATTERIES  AGAIN — THE  ADVANCE  ON  PORT  GIBSON — BATTLE  OF  PORT  GIBSON — GAL 
LANTRY  OF  THE  ILLINOIS  TROOPS — GEN.  GRANT'S  ORDER — EVACUATION  OF  GRAND 
GULF — INTERESTING  MOVEMENTS  OF  THE  ARMY. 

WE  have  seen  the  fruitlessness  of  two  movements  against 
Vicksburg.  We  now  come  to  other  movements  which 
after  many  bloody  battles  and  many  weary  weeks  and  months  of 
siege,  resulted  in  final  and  complete  success.  Any  further  attempts 
to  carry  Vicksburg  from  the  directions  undertaken  by  Generals 
Grant  and  Sherman  were  abandoned.  On  the  29th  of  January, 
1863,  General  Grant  descended  the  Mississippi  with  gunboats  and 
transports,  landing  a  portion  of  his  army  at  Milliken's  Bend,  and  the 
remainder  opposite  Vicksburg,  at  Young's  Point.  Then  commenced 
the  stupendous  canal  operations  which  were  also  destined  to  result 
in  failure.  In  the  attempt  upon  Vicksburg  by  Commodore  Farra- 
gut's  fleet,  General  Williams  had  attempted  to  cut  a  canal  across  the 
peninsula  opposite  Vicksburg,  hoping  thus  to  change  the  course  of 
the  river  and  leave  Vicksburg  an  inland  town  of  no  military 
importance,  but  the  plan  was  abandoned  on  account  of  the  low  stage 
of  water.  General  Grant's  first  attempt  on  Vicksburg  was  the 
renewal  of  this  experiment.  For  six  weeks  thousands  of  men  were 
at  work  in  the  trenches,  but  when  the  work  was  almost  done,  an  unfor 
tunate  break  flooded  the  canal  with  water.  Before  this  could  be 


THE    CANALS.  453 

repaired,  the  season  of  high  water  had  passed  and  the  work  was 
abandoned. 

The  Lake  Providence  canal  was  the  next  attempt.  Seventy  miles 
north  of  Vicksburg  is  Lake  Providence,  connected  with  Swan  Lake 
by  a  bayou  full  of  snags,  and  winding  through  a  thick,  tangled  for 
est.  Swan  Lake  found  an  outlet  in  the  Tensas  River  which  emptied 
into  the  Black  River,  which  last  stream  flowed  sluggishly  into  the 
Red  River.  The  attempt  was  made  to  cut  a  canal  five  miles  in 
length  through  the  morass,  dig  out  the  shallows  and  eradicate 
the  snags  and  stumps,  and  was  carried  oat,  but  the  Father  of  Waters 
nevertheless  refused  to  change  his  course.  When  the  spring  floods 
fell,  the  new  channel  was  nothing  but  an  insignificant  creek  and  thus 
the  Lake  Providence  canal  was  a  failure. 

There  was  a  third  plan  to  be  tried.  One  hundred  and  fifty  mileb 
north  of  Vicksburg,  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the  river,  is  Moon 
Lake,  from  which  the  Yazoo  Pass  leads  into  the  Coldwater  River. 
This  again  enters  the  Tallahatchie,  which  in  turn  empties  into  the 
Yazoo,  about  seventy  miles  north  of  Vicksburg  It  was  decided  to 
cut  a  canal  from  the  river  to  Moon  Lake,  clear  the  obstructions  from 
the  Yazoo  Pass,  and  by  this  series  of  streams  gain  a  position  in  the 
rear  of  the  rebel  fortifications  at  liaines'  Bluff.  The  canal  was  cut 
and  steamers  succeeded  after  perilous  exertions  in  getting  into  the 
Yazoo,  but  here  they  were  met  by  formidable  batteries  unapproach 
able  by  land,  and  .against  which  the  wooden  gunboats  were  unable 
to  cope.  They  could  not  be  reduced  and  they  could  not  be  passed. 
Thus  the  third  plan  failed. 

Once  more  the  streams  and  bayous  around  Vicksburg  were  tried. 
About  seven  miles  up  the  Yazoo,  from  its  entrance  into  the  Missis 
sippi,  there  is  the  mouth  of  a  stream  known  as  Steele's  bayou.  This 
bayou  is  connected  with  a  labyrinthian  net- work  of  creeks  called 
Black  Bayou,  Rolling  Fork  and  Sunflower  River.  These  sluggish 
streams  have  several  entrances  into  the  Yazoo,  and  by  them  a  com 
plete  circuit  of  Haines'  Bluff  can  be  made.  Admiral  Porter  writh 
his  gunboat  fleet  attempted  to  force  a  passage  through  them,  accom 
panied  by  a  heavy  force  of  infantry,  but  by  the  time  they  had 
reached  the  Sunflower  River,  their  peril  became  so  manifest  that  the 
expedition  was  abandoned. 


454:  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS 

Failure  seemed  staring  the  army  in  the  face  whichever  way  it) 
turned.  Sherman's  assault  had  demonstrated  that  Vioksburg  could 
not  be  taken  by  direct  attack  from  the  river.  The  failure  of  the 
Yazoo  expedition  and  the  expedition  through  Steele's  bayou,  proved 
that  it  could  not  be  approached  from  the  north.  The  attempt  to 
convey  troops  around  by  the  William's  canal  and  by  Lake  Provi 
dence  had  also  failed.  It  therefore  now  became  a  question  of  tho 
most  vital  importance  whether  some  point  below  on  the  Mississippi 
might  not  be  reached,  and  to  General  McClernand's  corps  or  rather 
a  portion  of  it,  it  was  given  to  test  the  question.  That  portion  em 
braced  the  following  Illinois  troops:  The  113th,  77th,  07th,  lOSth, 
120th,  33d,  and  90th  infantry  regiments;  Cos.  A,  E,  F,  and  K,  3d 
Illinois  Cavalry,  a  detachment  of  the  2d  Illinois  Cavalry,  the  Peoria 
Light  Artillery  and  Chicago  Mercantile  Battery,  the  whole  organ 
ized  into  four  divisions  commanded  by  Gens.  Osterhaus,  A.  J.  Smith, 
Hovey  and  Can*. 

On  the  29th  of  March,  General  McClernand  ordered  General 
Osterhaus  to  send  forward  a  detachment  and  capture  Richmond, 
the  capital  of  Madison  parish.  This  was  accomplished  on  the  30th 
by  the  69th  Indiana,  a  section  of  artillery  and  a  detachment  of  the 
2d  Illinois  Cavalry.  The  road  was  then  seized  and  guarded,  but 
progress  was  slow  and  painful.  The  road  lay  through  a  vast  bog, 
intersected  with  bayous.  Corduroy  roads  had  to  be  built,  outlets 
cut  for  the  water,  and  bridges  made  for  the  bayous.  In  fact  the 
army  had  to  build  a  road  as  it  advanced.  As  the  troops  approached 
New  Carthage,  they  found  that  the  rebels  had  cut  the  levee,  so  that 
New  Carthage  was  virtually  an  island.  After  ineffectual  attempts 
to  bridge  the  floods,  it  was  found  necessary  to  march  further  down 
the  river.  Not  discouraged  by  these  obstacles  the  army  pressed  on, 
and  after  having  made  seventy  miles  of  road  and  two  thousand  fccfc 
of  bridges  they  reached  their  destination. 

A  considerable  part  of  the  army  was  now  south  of  Yicksburg, 
but  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  river,  and  without  means  of  crossing. 
To  effect  this  it  was  necessary  for  gunboats  and  transports  from 
above  to  run  by  the  rebel  batteries.  The  first  passage  of  the  bat 
teries  was  effected  by  eight  gunboats  and  three  transports,  and  the 
second  by  eight  unarmed  transports.  Only  a  few  hours  before  the- 


THE    ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEERS.  455 

sailing  of  the  Litter,  their  crews  declined  to  accompany  them.  A 
recruiting  olH.'.e  was  immediately  opened,  and  word  was  sent  among 
the  camps  th.it  volunteers  were  wanted  to  man  the  boats  and  carry 
them  past  the  batteries.  The  answer  was  no  uncertain  one.  Men 
poured  in  faster  than  they  were  wanted.  So  eager  were  they,  that 
in  less  than  four  hours,  over  five  hundred  men  had  placed  their  names 
upon  the  list.  So  eager  were  all  to  embark  that  the  lists  had  to  be 
closed,  and  the  lucky  ones  were  chosen  by  lot.  Every  man  who  was 
chosen,  was  from  the?  17th  army  corps  and  belonged  to  General  John 
A.  Logan's  splendid  division.  The  names  of  the  Illinois  soldiers 
who  then  sprang  forward  into  the  breach  when  men  were  wanted, 
were  as  follows: 

Steamer  Tigress — Engineers,  E.  D.  Hunter  and  Frank  Mays  of 
the  81st;  Pilot,  Lieutenant  Smith  of  the  81st. 

Steamer  Horizon — Captain,  Capt.  Geo.  W.  Kinnard,  20th ;  mate, 
Lieut.  J.  D.  Vavney,  llth;  engineers,  Patrick  Vancel,  81st;  Lieu 
tenant  Roberts,  31st;  pilot,  John  Strong,  8th;  firemen,  William 
Walker,  J.  Roberts,  J.  Winchester,  Wm.  Green  and  E.  J.  Le.vis  of 
the  81st  and  J.  0.  Robbins,  P.  McGrath,  J.  M.  Purriman  and  John 
Paul  of  the  45th. 

Steamer  J.  TPi  Cheeseman — Firemen,  Robert  Irwin,  C.  W. 
Wengfickl,  Chas.  Checoski,  Noah  Butler,  M.  L.  Baird,  J.  St.  John 
and  E.  Hicksey  of  the  81st,  and  A.  Mapes,  II.  Casey  and  W.  H. 
Harrison  of  the  30th. 

Steamer  Anglo- Saxon — Mate,  Captain  W.  B.  Short,  31st;  en- 
giners,  D.  B.  Franklin,  E.  Briggs  and  Jarnss  R.  Clarke  of  the  20th, 
and  A.  Snow,  Harrison  Hines,  and  A.  J.  Esping  of  the  45th ;  pilots, 
John  Randall  and  Charles  Evans  of  the  45th ;  firemen  and  crew, 
James  Massey,  A.  B.  Turner,  E.  B.  Cunningham,  E.  Hamilton  and 
Win.  Winsley  of  the  8th,  J.  F.  Street  of  the  20th,  Thomas  Vancell, 
J.  W.  Strickland,  David  Kesler,  Sergeant  West  and  John  Reynolds 
of  the  3 1  st. 

Steamer  Empire  City — Captain,  Capt.  G.  W.  Lisney,  81st;  en 
gineers,  C.  P.  Flint,  John  Graves,  W.  H.  Tripp  and  E.  W.  Fulford 
of  the  45th,  John  Adams  and  F.  J.  Gilbert  of  the  31st;  firemen,  H. 
Cassdl,  R.  Tubbs  and  H.  H.  Miller  of  the  20th. 

Steamer  Moderator — Captain,  Caot.   M.   M.  Twist  of  the  30th; 


4:56  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS 

mate,  Lieutenant  Thomas  J.  McClurg  of  the  8th ;  engineers, — 

Mayfield,  Wm.  Beckman,  Lieutenant  Sutton,  Geo.  II.  Recker  and 
A.  Stahl  of  the  8th,  Wm.  T.  Roberts  and  Hugh  Oliver  of  the  81st; 
pilot,  Joseph  Forest  and  Patrick  McCarty  of  the  8th. 

On  the  29th  of  April,  the  13th  corps  hud  reached  the  Mississippi 
and  the  17th  was  well  on  the  way.  General  Grant  then  embarked 
so  much  of  the  13th  as  could  be  got  on  the  transports  and  barges, 
and  moved  to  the  front  of  Grand  Gulf,  the  plan  being  that  the  gun 
boats  should  silence  the  fortifications,  and  under  their  cover  the 
troops  should  land  and  carry  the  works  by  storm.  The  attack  was 
commenced  on  the  morning  of  the  29th,  but  the  works  were  too 
strong  and  the  attack  failed  after  several  of  the  gunboats  hal  been 
crippled.  General  Grant,  therefore,  determined  to  run  the  enemy's 
batteries  again  and  to  turn  his  position  by  effecting  a  landing  at 
Bruinsburg  from  which  there  was  a  good  road  to  Port  Gibson.  The 
gunboats  again  engaged  the  batteries  and  the  transports  ran  by 
without  material  injury. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  the  work  of  ferrying  the 
troops  across  the  Mississippi  was  commenced.  The  13th  corps, 
Gen.  Me  demand' s,  as  soon  as  landed,  was  pushed  on  toward  Port 
Gibson.  About  1  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  of  May,  when 
four  miles  from  Port  Gibson,  Gen.  Carr's  division  leading  the  ad 
vance  was  met  with  a  light  fire  of  the  enemy's  infantry  and  after 
wards  of  artillery.  Harris's  brigade  was  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle 
and  the  enemy's  fire  was  speedily  silenced.  At  day-break,  General 
Osterhaus  moved  his  division  to  the  left  to  relieve  a  detachment  of 
Gen.  Carr's  division.  In  executing  this  movement,  he  encountered 
a  strong  force  of  the  enemy  and  a  sharp  struggle  lasting  over  an 
hour  ensued,  resulting  in  driving  the  enemy  from  his  position.  Gen. 
Osterhaus  then  pressed  forward  until  insurmountable  objects  in  the 
nature  of  the  ground  and  his  exposure  to  the  enemy's  fire  arrested 
his  progress.  What  could  not  be  accomplished  by  an  attack  in 
front,  however,  was  easily  effected  by  a  flank  movement  which  re 
sulted  in  the  rout  of  that  portion  of  the  enemy  and  the  capture  of 
three  cannon.  While  Gen.  Osterhaus  was  thus  pursuing  the  enemy 
on  the  right,  Gen.  Carr  attacked  on  the  left,  and  a  furious  battle  en 
sued,  and  continued  for  several  hours,  terminated  by  a  magnificent 


THE    VICTORY.  457 

charge  made  by  Gen.  Hovey,  which  resulted  in  the  capture  of  four 
hundred  prisoners,  two  12-pourider  howitzers,  three  caissons  and  a 
large  amount  of  ammunition.  Determined  to  press  his  advantage, 
Gon.  Me Clernand  ordered  Generals  Carr  and  Hovey  to  push  the 
enemy  with  the  utmost  vlagor,  which  they  did,  beating  him  back  sev 
en  miles. 

The  second  position  taken  by  the  enemy  was  a  very  strong  one. 
It  was  in  a  creek  bottom  covered  with  trees  and  underbrush,  the 
approach  to  which  was  over  open  fields  and  exposed  hill  slopes. 
Having  advanced  until  they  gained  a  ridge  overlooking  the  bottom, 
Generals  Carr's  and  Hovey's  divisions  were  again  exposed  to  the 
enemy's  fire.  A  hot  engagement  ensued.  The  enemy  massed  a 
heavy  force  against  our  right  front  with  the  evident  design  of  forcing 
it  back  and  turning  the  right  flank.  Gen.  Smith  was  sent  forward 
to  support  that  flank,  and  Gen.  Hovey  massing  his  artillery  on  the 
right  opened  a  most  destructive  fire  upon  the  enemy,  wmch  forced  him 
back  with  considerable  loss  upon  his  center.  Concentrating  a  large 
number  of  troops,  the  enemy  directed  another  attack  against  our 
right  center,  but  the  attack  was  met  and  returned  with  great  vigor 
by  Gen.  Carr.  Troops  from  Generals  Smith's  and  Hovey's  divisions 
came  up,  and  after  an  obstinate  struggle,  the  enemy  was  again  beat 
en  back  until  night  ended  the  battle.  The  next  day,  the  13th  corps 
entered  and  occupied  Port  Gibson,  the  enemy  having  hastily  fled 
the  night  before  over  the  Bayou  Pierre,  burning  the  bridge  in  his 
rear. 

Instances  of  the  daring  and  valor  of  Illinois  soldiers  are  not  want 
ing  in  this  well-fought  battle.  The  reports  of  division  and  brigade 
commanders  teem  with  them.  On  that  day  so  full  of  heroic  deeds, 
none  was  more  heroic  than  that  of  Captain  I.  C.  Dinsmore  of  the 
99th  Illinois,  who  sprang  upon  one  of  the  enemy  s  howitzers,  in  Gen. 
Hovey's  gallant  charge,  claimed  it  as  his  own,  turned  it  upon  the 
enemy  and  fired  at  them.  Major  L.  H.  Potter,  with  only  four  com 
panies  of  the  33d  Illinois,  engaged  the  enemy  on  the  left  in  the 
morning,  and  obstinately  held  him  in  check  until  the  arrival  of  Gen. 
Osterhaus'  division.  Gen.  Osterhaus  having  come  up,  the  33d  Illi 
nois  commanded  by  the  fearless  Col.  Lippincott  was  moved  forward 
along  a  high  ridge,  and  successfully  explored  the  ravines  intervening 


458  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

between  our  lines  and  those  of  the  enemy.  A  brigade  was  ordered 
up,  the  90th  Illinois  forming  the  reserve.  After  a  sharp  contest  and 
while  the  brigade  was  changing  front,  the  99th  led  by  "Old  Hough 
and  Ready  numb:T  two,"  Col.  Bailey,  came  up  with  cheer  upon 
cheer  and  on  the  double  quick,  and  took  its  place  in  the  lino.  Three 
times  the  rebels  charged  upon  the  line  and  were  hurled  back  by  the 
troops  of  Indiana  and  Illinois,  fighting  side  by  si  e  in  generous  emu 
lation.  For  at  least  two  hours  that  single  brigade  held  back  three 
brigades  of  the  enemy  until  reinforcements  from  Ilovoy  cam-  up, 
when  a  charge  was  made  with  the  wildest  enthusiasm,  resulting  in 
the  rout  of  the  enemy.  The  18th  Indiana  and  99th  Illinois  were 
equally  gallant  in  the  charge,  and  are  mentioned  with  equal  honors 
in  the  oflHal  reports.  The  118th  Illinois  in  Gen.  Garrard's  brigade 
was  also  mentioned  with  especial  honor  for  the  part  they  took  in  the 
battle,  conjointly  with  the  120th  Ohio. 

Of  so  much  importance  was  this  victory  deemed  by  Gen.  Grant, 
that  he  issued  the  following  congratulatory  order: 

"HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OP  TITK  TENNESSEE,  ) 
"  In  the  Field,  Harkinsou's  Ferry,  May  7.      \ 

"Soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  : 

"  Once  more  I  thank  you  for  adding  another  victory  to  the  long  list  of  those  pre 
viously  won  by  your  valor  and  endurance.  The  triumph  gained  over  the  enemy 
near  Port  Gibson,  on  the  1st,  was  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  war.  The  cap 
ture  of  five  cannon  and  more  than  one  thousand  prisoners,  the  posses -ion  of  Grand 
Gulf  and  a  firm  foothold  on  the  highlands  between  the  Big  Black  and  Bayou  Pierre, 
from  which  we  threaten  the  whole  line  of  the  enemy,  are  among  the  fruits  of  this 
brilliant  achievement. 

"The  march  from  Milliken's  Bend  to  the  point  opposite  Grand  Gulf  was  made  in 
stormy  weather  and  the  worst  of  roads.  Bridges  and  ferries  had  to  be  constructed. 
Moving  by  night  as  well  as  by  day,  with  labor  incessant  and  extraordinary  privations 
endured  by  men  and  officers,  such  as  have  rarely  been  paralleled  in  any  campaign 
not  a  murmur  or  complaint  has  been  uttered.  A  few  days'  continuance  of  the  same 
seal  and  constancy  will  secure  to  this  army  crowning  victories  over  the  rebellion. 

"More  difficulties  and  privations  are  before  us;  let  us  endure  them  manfully. 
Other  battles  are  to  be  fought ;  let  us  fight  them  bravely.  A  grateful  country  will 
rejoice  at  our  success,  and  history  will  record  it  with  immortal  honor. 

"U.  S.  GRANT,  Major-General  Commanding." 

The  possession  of  Grand  Gulf,  alluded  to  in  General  Grant's  order, 
was  the  result  of  these  movements.  Admiral  Porter  made  a  move- 


ARMY    MOVEMENTS. 

merit  to  attack  the  works  at  that  place  on  the  3d,  and  found  them 
evacuated.  General  Grant  now  made  the  necessary  arrangements 
for  changing  his  base  of  supplies  from  Bruinsburg  to  Grand  Gulf. 
When  the  enemy  moved  from  Milliken's  Bend,  the  15th  corps,  under 
General  Sherman,  remained  to  be  the  last  to  follow.  General  Sher 
man  had  also  been  ordered  to  make  a  demonstration  onHaines'  Bluff, 
in  order  to  prevent  reinforcements  leaving  Vicksburg  to  assist  the 
forces  at  Grand  Gulf.  General  Sherman  moved  upon  Haines'  Bluff, 
but  the  attack  was  made  chiefly  by  gunboats.  On  the  7th  the  expe 
dition  returned  and  the  military  part  prepared  to  join  General  Grant. 

It  had  betn  General  Grant's  plan  to  collect  all  his  forces  at  Grand 
Gulf  and  to  get  on  hand  a  good  supply  of  provisions  and  ordnance 
before  moving  against  Vicksburg  from  the  south.  He  had  also  de 
termined  to  detach  an  army  corps  to  co-operate  with  General  Banks 
at  Port  Hudson  and  thus  effect  a  junction  of  the  forces.  But  this 
plan  was  given  up  upon  learning  that  General  Banks  could  not  re 
turn  to  Baton  Rouge  before  the  10th  of  May,  and  that  by  the  reduc 
tion  of  Port  Hudson  he  could  not  join  General  Grant  with  more  than 
12,000  men.  These  delays  would  be  so  great  that  the  addition  of 
forces  would  not  make  him  relatively  so  strong  for  the  attack  upon 
Vicksburg  as  if  the  attack  were  made  at  once.  Another  reason  for 
the  change  of  plan  was  the  expectation  of  the  arrival  of  reinforce 
ments  at  Jackson  for  the  rebels. 

Meantime,  as  the  army  of  General  Grant  lay  at  Harkinson's  Ferry, 
waiting  for  supplies  and  the  arrival  of  General  Sherman's  corps, 
demonstrations  were  made  to  deceive  the  enemy,  and  an  elaborate 
and  well  ordered  system  of  movements  commenced.  On  the  7th  of 
May  an  advance  was  ordered.  General  McPherson's  corps  was  re 
quired  to  keep  the  road  nearest  Black  River  to  Rocky  Springs. 
General  McClernand's  corps  moved  on  the  ridge  road  running  from 
Willow  Springs,  and  General  Sherman  followed  with  his  corps  divided 
on  the  two  roads.  All  the  ferries  were  closely  guarded  until  the 
troops  were  well  advanced.  It  was  General  Grant's  plan  that  Gen 
erals  McPherson  and  Sherman's  corps  should  hug  the  Big  Black 
River  as  closely  as  possible,  and  thus  get  to  the  Jackson  and  Vicks 
burg  Railroad  at  some  point  between  Edwards's  Station  and  Bolton. 
General  McPherson  was  ordered  to  move  by  way  of  Utica  to  Ray 


460  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

mond,  and  from  thence  to  Jackson,  destroying  everything  of  value 
to  the  enemy,  and  then  push  west  to  rejoin  the  main  force.  General 
Sherman  moved  forward  on  the  Edward's  Station  road,  crossing 
Fourteen  Mile  Creek  at  Dillon's  plantation.  General  McCleriKuuS 
moved  across  the  same  creek  further  west,  sending  one  division  by 
the  Baldwin's  Ferry  road  as  far  as  the  river.  At  the  Fourteen  Mile 
Creek  crossing,  both  Generals  McClernand  and  Sherman  had  some 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy,  but  the  latter  was  easily  overcome. 
That  night,  May  llth,  General  McClernand's  corps  was  at  the  Black 
River;  General  Sherman  was  at  and  Beyond  Auburn,  and  General 
McPherson  a  few  miles  north  of  Utica. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

PROM  GRAND  GULF  TO  VICKSBTTRG — A  SERIES  OP  BATTLES  AND  VICTORIES — THE  BATTLE 
OP  RAYMOND— A  SPLENDID  CHARGE — GENERAL  CROCKER'S  CHARGE  AT  JACKSON — 
CAPTURE  OF  THE  CITY — THE  BATTLE  OF  CHAMPION  HILLS — DESPERATE  FIGHTING  OF 
LOGAN'S  DIVISION — GALLLANTRY  OF  His  MEN — THE  MARCH  ON  BIG  BLACK  RIVER 
BRIDGE — STORMING  THE  WORKS — THE  REBELS  DRIVEN  OUT — THE  FINAL  INVESTMENT 
OF  VlCKSBURG A  REVIEW  OF  THE  SITUATION TRIBUTE  TO  ILLINOIS  VALOR. 

THE  series  of  battles  which  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succes 
sion  prior  to  the  final  and  complete  investment  of  Vicksburg, 
are  of  unusual  interest,  both  as  illustrating  the  rapidity  and  sharp 
ness  with  which  Gen.  Grant  struck  blow  after  blow,  and  as  develop 
ing  many  instances  of  the  valor  of  Illinois  troops.  The  first  of 
&iese  which  we  purpose  to  notice  was  that  fought  on  Farnden's 
Creek  near  Raymond,  May  12th.  Skirmishing  commenced  early  in 
the  morning.  At  nine  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  our  advanced  cavalry 
reported  to  Gen.  McPherson  that  a  strong  body  of  rebel  infantry 
was  ahead  of  them,  which  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  cavalry  to 
penetrate.  After  heavy  firing  by  the  cavalry  in  which  the  2d  Illi 
nois  behaved  gallantly,  losing  a  few  men,  the  20th,  73d  and  68th 
Ohio,  and  30th  Illinois  constituting  the  second  brigade  of  Gen.  Lo 
gan's  division,  were  ordered  forward.  The  brigade  advanced  and 
held  its  ground  against  a  superior  force.  Gen.  Logan  hurried  for 
ward  the  1st  and  3d  brigades  of  his  division.  The  8th  Michigan 
battery  was  also  sent  to  the  front,  and  committed  great  havoc  in 
spite  of  the  repeated  efforts  of  the  rebels  to  charge  upon  and  cap 
ture  the  battery.  Defeated  in  their  efforts,  the  rebels  fell  back  to 
a  position  just  in  the  rear  of  Farnden's  Creek.  General  McPher 
son  immediately  ordered  an  advance  upon  the  position.  General 
Dennis's  and  General  Smith's  brigades  moved  forward,  and  a  fear- 


462  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

ful  but  brief  conflict  ensued,  in  which  the  20th  Illinois  fought  most 
desperately  and  lost  heavily,  but  the  rebels  were  forced  from  their 
ground.  During  this  desperate  struggle,  the  rebels  attempted  to 
turn  our  left  flank,  and  very  nearly  succeeded.  The  fight  on  the 
left  was  fearful.  The  20th  Illinois  had  fired  forty  rounds  of 
cartridges,  and  still  held  the  enemy  at  bay.  Their  colonel  had 
been  mortally  wounded  while  urging  on  his  men,  but  not  one  of  the 
heroes  faltered.  At  this  critical  moment,  Gen.  Stevenson's  brigade 
came  to  the  rescue.  The  8th  Illinois,  Lieut. -Colonel  Sturgis,  came 
on  with  fixed  bayonets  and  with  a  wild  yell,  slowly  but  steadily  as 
the  march  of  fate.  Their  old  foe,  the  7th  Texas,  who  had  faced  them 
at  Fort  Donelson,  again  stood  to  receive  them,  but  the  8th  dashed 
them  away  like  chaff.  The  brigade  moved  for \varcl,  solid  and  irre 
sistible,  and  the  rebels  gave  way  and  fled  in  disorder,  retreating 
towards  Raymond.  General  Logan,  to  whose  division  belongs  the 
honor  of  the  victory,  was  full  of  zeal  and  wild  with  enthusiasm. 
Fearless  as  a  lion,  he  was  in  every  part  of  the  field,  and  seemvd  to 
infuse  every  man  of  his  command  with  a  part  of  his  own  indomitable 
energy  and  fiery  valor. 

On  the  morning  of  the  13th,  Gen.  Crocker's  division  of  the  17th 
corps  was  on  the  move,  followed  by  Gen.  Logan's  on  the  road  to 
Clinton.  At  G  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  14th,  these  two  divi 
sions,  General  Crocker's  in  the  advance,  moved  cautiously  along 
towards  Jackson.  Rebel  cavalry  were  encountered  about  three  miles 
from  Clinton,  but  they  foil  back  rapidly.  About  three  miles  from 
Jackson,  the  main  force  of  the  enemy  was  encountered.  Th.-ir  line 
was  nearly  three  miles  in  length,  of  which  the  17th  corps  engaged 
one  half,  Sherman  on  the  right  attending  to  the  other  half.  Learn 
ing  the  situation,  Gen.  Crocker  ordered  the  18th  Missouri  battery 
into  position  to  test  their  artillery  strength.  A  reply  from  three  bat 
teries  was  the  result,  and  an  artillery  duel  commenced,  which  lasted 
for  half  an  hour  Avithout  any  decisive  results.  The  infantry  were 
then  ordered  into  action.  One  of  the  most  magnificent  charges  of 
the  war  followed,  in  which  the  56th  Illinois  participated  with  dis 
tinguished  honor,  and  won  laurels  for  its  bravery.  A  mile  of  open 
space  lay  between  our  army  and  the  enemy,  every  foot  of  which 
was  swept  by  the  enemy's  fire.  The  1st  brigade  under  Colonel  San- 


BATTLE    OF    CHAMPION    HILLS.  463 

bon:e,  was  selected  for  the  bloody  work.  They  forme  1  in  li.ie  and 
steadily-  advance;!  in  spite  of  the  fearful  storm  of  shot  und  shell 
which  swept  through  their  ranks.  They  halted  for  a  few  moments 
under  cover  of  a  hill-side.  Their  officers  briefly  addressed  thtm  and 
then  give  the  word  forward.  Onward  the  colunr.i  flew  on  the  double 
quick,  their  cheers  ringing  high  above  the  din  of  musketry.  They 
had  hardly  struck  the  rebel  front  before  it  was  shivered'.  A  long, 
lou;l  cheer  of  victory  swelled  on  the  air,  as  the  foe  fljd  panL'-stricken 
from  the  field,  and  yielded  the  city  of  Jackson  as  the  prize  cf  the 
battle. 

On  the  16th  of  May,  another  glorious  and  decisive  b  it'lo  was 
fought.  Early  in  the  morning  Gen.  McClernand's  corps  was  in 
motion.  Gen.  Ilovey's  division  was  on  the  main  road  from  J  ickson 
to  Vicksburg,  but  the  balance  of  the  corps  was  a  few  miles  to  the 
southward.  On  a  parallel  road  Gen.  McPhersoirs  corps  followed 
Hovey's  division  closely.  At  9  o'clock,  Gen  Hove}'  discovered  the 
enemy  in  front,  on  Champion  Hills,  to  the  left  of  the  ro.ul  near  Ba 
ker's  Creek,  apparently  in  force.  Skirmishers  were  thrown  out,  and 
the  division  advanced  cautiously  and  slowly  to  give  Gen.  Logan's 
advanced  division  time  to  come  up  as  a  support.  General  Ilovey's 
division  advanced  across  an  open  field  at  the  foot  of  Champion 
Hills,  and  commenced  battle  at  eleven  o'clock.  The  rebels,  although 
strongly  posted  upon  a  heavily  timbered  hill  covered  with  almost 
impenetrable  scrub  oaks,  were  deficient  in  artillery,  and  opened  only 
with  a  four-gun  battery.  Gen.  Ilovey's  division  carried  the  bight 
in  gallant  style,  and  made  a  dash  upon  the  battery,  driving  the  gun 
ners  from  their  pieces  and  capturing  the  latter.  At  this  juncture 
Mite-hill's  Ohio  battery  opened  upon  another  battery  about  eighty 
yards  from  the  brow  of  the  hill.  The  rebels  made  a  desperate  charge 
upon  it,  and  nothing  but  the  fleetness  of  the  horses  saved  it  from  cap 
ture.  Aft;  r  the  charge  they  were  reinforced  with  fresh  troops,  and 
redoubled  their  efforts  to  hold  the  position  and  dislodge  our  troops  on 
the  hill.  Hovey's  division  was  slowly  forced  back,  but  a  brigade 
from  General  Quimby's  division,  hastened  to  his  support,  and  the 
ground  was  re-occupied  and  the  rebels  were  finally  repulsed.  In 
this  battle  General  Logan's  splendid  division  as  usual  immortalized 
itself. .  At  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  he  marched  past  the 


464:  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

brow  of  the  hill,  and  forming  in  line  of  battle  on  the  right 
advanced  in  magnificent  style,  sweeping  everything  before  him.  At 
the  edge  of  the  woods  in  front  of  Logan,  the  battle  was  of  the  most 
desperate  character,  but  not  a  man  flinched  or  a  line  wavered  in  his 
division.  They  bore  themselves  like  veterans,  and  moved  on  as  if 
conscious  of  their  invincibility  and  the  certainty  of  victory. 

Driven  from  his  position,  and  repulsed  in  his  demonstrations  upon 
our  right  and  left,  there  was  no  alternative  for  the  enemy  but  re 
treat.  He  moved  along  the  Vicksburg  road  towards  Edwards'  Sta 
tion,  under  a  fearful  cannonade  and  musketry  fire  from  Logan's 
division.  General  Stevenson,  with  a  portion  of  the  13th  corps, 
swung  around  his  left  upon  the  road,  cutting  off  several  brigades, 
which  were  forced  to  move  across  the  fields  towards  the  Big  Black. 
The  pursuit  was  given  to  General  McClernand.  That  General,  with 
his  customary  vigor,  pressed  the  retreating  enemy  until  he  reached 
a  point  not  more  than  two  miles  from  Edwards'  Station.  The 
column  arrived  at  the  Station  about  dark  and  bivouacked  for  the 
night. 

On  Sunday  morning,  March  17th,  before  daylight,  the  column  was 
on  the  march,  moving  upon  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  Big  Black 
River.  General  Carr,  one  of  the  bravest  of  brave  Illinois  officers, 
had  the  advance,  followed  by  General  Osterhaus,  with  General  Smith 
as  a  reserve.  General  Carr  moved  up  in  line  of  battle  with  a  heavy 
force  of  skirmishers  in  advance.  The  rebel  sharpshooters  annoyed 
him  at  every  turn,  so  that  his  advance  was  frequently  delayed,  but 
at  10  o'clock  he  had  reached  a  belt  of  timber  intervening  between 
the  main  column  and  the  rebel  breastworks.  General  McClernand, 
quickly  comprehending  the  situation,  ordered  General  Carr  to  the 
right  of  the  road.  On  the  left,  General  Osterhaus  was  ordered  in 
line  of  battle.  Just  behind  the  line  of  skirmishers  was  posted  a  bat 
tery,  which,  as  the  skirmishers  advanced,  threw  shot  and  shell  with 
great  rapidity  and  effectiveness.  The  enemy  briskly  replied,  their 
first  shot  striking  a  caisson  of  the  18th  Wisconsin  battery,  exploding 
its  contents  and  slightly  wounding  General  Osterhaus.  Word  was 
brought  to  General  McClernand  that  General  Osterhaus  was  wounded 
and  he  assigned  Brig.-General  A,  L.  Lee  to  the  temporary  command 
of  the  9th  division.  After  short  skirmishing,  the  enemy  fell  back 


BATTLE  OF   THE    BIG   BLACK.  465 

within  his  entrenchments,  so  maneuvering  as  to  have  an  open  field 
between  his  position  and  our  points  of  approach.  In  the  meantime 
the  artillery  fire  was  very  heavy.  General  Me  demand  ordered  the 
works  to  be  stormed,  and  General  Carr  prepared  to  execute  the 
order.  The  point  selected  for  the  charge  was  upon  the  extreme  left, 
where,  protected  by  the  banks  of  the  river,  General  Lawler  concealed 
a  portion  of  his  brigade.  At  the  word  of  command,  this  brigade, 
with  General  Benton's  on  the  left,  unslung  their  knapsacks,  threw 
their  blankets  on  the  ground  and  moved  forward  in  gallant  style, 
the  troops  wading  up  to  their  armpits  across  a  bayou.  A  murderous 
fire  greeted  them,  but  they  paid  no  attention  to  it,  pressed  over 
the  entrenchments,  presented  their  muskets  and  demanded  surrender. 
The  arguments  were  irresistible  and  the  enemy  gave  up  their  position. 

The  enemy  had  left  behind  him  after  constructing  a  bridge  the 
preceding  night,  two  brigades  to  defend  the  works,  while  the  balance 
of  his  force  passed  over  and  rested  on  the  northern  bank  of  the 
river.  He  deemed  the  position  impregnable,  but  so  furious  and  en 
ergetic  was  the  attack  that  the  position  was  carried  with  ease. 
When  the  enemy  retreated,  this  bridge  was  burned  and  it  became 
necessary  to  construct  another.  General  Lee  was  entrusted  with 
this  order,  and  in  the  face  of  the  rebel  sharpshooters,  by  8  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  a  bridge  was  thrown  across  the  river  over  which  his 
command  and  A.  J.  Smith's  division,  followed  by  McPherson's  corps, 
crossed  in  safety,  Sherman's  corps  crossing  at  Bridgeport. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  General  Sherman  commenced 
his  march  by  the  Bridgeport  and  Vicksburg  road,  and  when  within 
three  miles  and  a  half  of  Yicksburg  turned  to  the  right  to  get  pos 
session  of  Walnut  Hills  and  the  Yazoo  River.  This  he  successfully 
accomplished  before  night.  General  McPherson  crossed  the  Big 
Black  above  the  road  to  Jackson  and  came  into  the  same  road  with 
Sherman,  but  in  his  rear.  General  McClernand  moved  by  the  Jack 
son  and  Vicksburg  road  to  Mount  Albans,  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg, 
and  then  turned  to  the  left  to  get  into  the  Baldwin's  Ferry  Road; 
By  these  movements  the  three  corps  covered  all  the  ground  their 
strength  would  admit  of,  and  by  the  morning  of  the  19th,  the  invest 
ment  of  Vicksburg  was  made  as  secure  and  thorough  as  could  be 
with  the  forces  at  General  Grant's  command. 

30 


466  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

There  probably  has  never  been  an  instance  during  the  war,  of  such 
rapid  marching,  such  powers  of  endurance,  such  valor,  and  such 
splendid  victories,  one  treading  upon  the  heels  of  another.  In  the 
inarch  from  Bruinsburg  to  Yicksburg,  only  five  days'  rations  were 
issued,  and  three  of  these  were  taken  in  haversacks  and  soon  ex 
hausted.  Twenty  days  elapsed  before  supplies  could  be  obtained 
from  the  government  stores.  In  the  meantime  the  army  had  to  live 
by  foraging  upon  a  country  partially  exhausted  by  the  rebels  and 
swarming  with  their  troops.  The  daring  passage  of  the  Yicksburg 
batteries  by  our  soldiers,  a  large  share  of  them  Illinois  troops  in 
unarmed  transports,  poorly  protected  against  the  pitiless  storm  which 
rained  upon  them  from  the  rebel  batteries — a  passage  which  seemed 
almost  a  forlorn  hope  ;  the  splendid  march  of  the  13th  corps  from 
Milliken's  Bend  to  New  Carthage,  through  swamps  and  bayous, 
making  its  roads  as  it  advanced  ;  the  second  passage  of  the  batteries 
of  Grand  Gulf,  which  only  a  short  time  previously  had  defied  our 
iron-dads  ;  the  splendid  battles  and  victories  of  Port  Gibson,  Ray 
mond,  Jackson,  Champion  Hills  and  the  Big  Black,  illustrated  with 
such  magnificent  charges  and  brilliant  movements ;  the  rapidity  and 
unerring  certainty  with  which  each  corps  performed  the  work  allotted 
to  it  in  securing  the  final  investment  of  Vicksbnrg;  all  these  ele 
ments  of  the  campaign  may  safely  challenge  comparison  in  the  an 
nals  of  war.  The  plan  of  the  capture  of  Vicksburg  commenced  with 
nothing  but  failures,  ended  with  nothing  but  the  most  complete  suc 
cess.  Sherman  had  failed  at  Chickasaw  bayou ;  Grant  had  failed 
in  the  movement  from  Grenada ;  the  Lake  Providence  and  Williams 
canals  had  failed;  the  expedition  through  Stjele's  bayou  had  failed 
and  led  almost  to  ruin;  the  first  attack  on  Grand  Gulf  failed,  but 
never  doubting  of  ultimate  success,  never  disheartened  by  failure, 
our  troops  moved  on.  If  one  plan  failed  another  was  tried,  and  each 
new  movement  was  worked  out  with  increased  courage  and  deter 
mination.  While  the  campaign  developed  to  its  utmost  the  unflinch 
ing  valor,  the  exhaustless  resources  and  the  determined  pertinacity 
of  the  ruling  spirit — General  Grant — it  no  less  developed  the  abilities 
and  courage  of  the  other  Illinois  generals  in  command — McClernand, 
Logan,  Carr,  McArthur  and  their  subordinate  officers.  To  chronicle 
the  feats  of  valor  displayed  by  the  Illinois  soldiers  comprising  the 


ILLINOIS  VALOR.  467 

commands  of  these  generals  would  require  volumes.  It  is  sufficient 
that  there  is  no  instance  of  cowardice,  not  a  single  occasion  where 
an  Illinois  soldier  faltered,  whether  he  was  called  upon  to  run  the 
fearful  ordeal  of  batteries  where  he  could  not  reply,  to  hold  in  check 
immense  odds  until  reinforcements  should  come  up,  or  make  the  final 
charge  in  the  face  of  the  belching  fury  of  artillery  and  musketiy. 
The  record  is  clear,  and  from  Memphis  to  Yicksburg,  in  every  vary 
ing  phase  of  the  conflict,  the  ancient  valor  of  Illinois  remained 
unsullied, 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

THE  INVESTMENT  OF  VICKSBURG— INCIDENTS  OF  THE  SIEGE — THE  CHARGE  ON  THE  22i> 
OF  MAY — GALLANTRY  OF  RANSOM'S  BRIGADE — A  TERRIBLE  FIRE — GEN.  RANSOM 
LEADS  His  MEN — FAILURE  OF  THE  CHARGE — SPLENDID  RETREAT  OF  THE  BRIGADE — 
GALLANTRY  OF  THE  MERCANTILE  BATTERY — GEN.  MCCLERNAND  PRESENTS  THEM  WITH 
Two  NAPOLEON  GUNS — DEATH  OF  DR.  STEVENSON  AND  CAPT.  ROGERS — YALOR  OF 
THE  20TH  ILLINOIS— ACCURACY  OF  OUR  ARTILLERISTS — A  REBEL  SORTIE  REPULSED — 
THE  ASSAULT  ON  FORT  HILL — THE  GLORIOUS  LEAD  MINE  REGIMENT — DEATH  OF 
LIEUT.-COL.  MELANCTH,ON  SMITH — CAPITULATION  OF  VICKSBURG — CORRESPONDENCE 
BETWEEN  GENS.  GRANT  AND  PEMBERTON — ^BIOGRAPHY  OF  LIEUT.-COL.  WRIGHT  OF  THE 
72o  ILLINOIS. 

TO  present  a  continuous  account  of  the  siege  operations  around 
Yicksburg,  and  the  various  movements  connected  therewith, 
from  the  19th  of  May  to  its  surrender  on  the  4th  of  July,  or  to  indi 
vidualize  the  instances  of  patriotism  and  daring  displayed  by  Illinois 
soldiers  throughout  those  trying  weeks,  would  require  much  more 
extended  limits  than  those  of  the  present  work.  To  enumerate  some 
of  the  most  prominent  of  these  instances  will  suffice  as  a  sample  of 
the  splendid  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  in  the  great  siege  of 
Vicksburg. 

Among  the  brilliant  charges  upon  the  rebel  works  on  the  22d  inst., 
that  of  the  lamented  General  Ransom's  brigade  shines  out  conspicu 
ously.  In  this  brigade  were  the  116th,  llth,  95th  and  Y2d  Illinois 
regiments.  General  Ransom  formed  his  brigade  in  line  of  battle 
by  battalions  closed  in  mass,  all  under  cover  of  a  ravine  and  within 
sixty  yards  of  the  works.  At  the  signal,  the  brigade  sprang  forward 
with  a  ringing  cheer.  He  had  hardly  advanced  twenty  steps  before 
a  most  terrible  storm  of  grape  and  canister  swept  through  his  ranks 
from  the  rebel  earthworks,  which,  for  the  instant  checked  the  advanc- 


RANSOM'S  CHAKGE.  469 

ii>g  column.  Colonel  Humphreys,  leading  the  95th,  fell,  stunned  by 
the  concussion  of  a  shell.  His  color-bearer  also  fell.  Colonel  Nevins 
of  the  llth  was  killed.  Lieut-Col.  Wright  of  the  72d,  was  seriously 
wounded.  While  waving  his  sword  over  his  head,  cheering  on  his 
men,  utterly  reckless  of  danger,  he  was  struck  in  the  arm  above  the 
•elbow.  Lieut.  Whittle,  acting  adjutant  of  the  same  regiment,  was 
also  among  the  bravest  of  the  brave.  He  moved  up  to  the  assault  with 
a  smile,  saying :  "  Come  on,  my  brave  fellows,  rebel  bullets  can  not  hit 
us."  When  wounded,  he  saluted  his  general  and  asked  permission 
to  retire.  It  seemed  as  if  every  officer,  conspicuous  on  the  field,  was 
cither  wounded  or  killed.  General  Ransom  rushed  to  the  head  of 
his  brigade,  seized  the  colors  of  the  95th,  and  waving  them,  shouted: 
"  Forward,  men  !  we  must  and  will  go  into  that  fort !  Who  will  fol 
low  me  ?"  The  splendid  column  again  moved  up  to  the  impassable 
ditch  and  fought  desperately  across  the  breast-works  for  half  an 
hour,  when  General  Ransom,  satisfied  that  the  position  could  not  be 
taken,  thus  addressed  his  men :  "  Men  of  the  2d  brigade  !  we  cannot 
maintain  this  position.  You  must  retire  to  the  cover  of  that  ravine, 
one  regiment  at  a  time,  and  in  order.  The  17th  Wisconsin  will  re 
main  to  cover  the  movement.  The  72d  Illinois  will  move  first  and 
move  now.  Move  slowly.  The  first  man  who  runs  or  goes  beyond 
the  ravine  shall  be  shot  on  the  spot.  I  will  stand  here  and  see  how  you 
•do  it."  The  movement  was  executed  by  every  regiment  as  if  upon  pa 
rade,  and  the  brigade  re-formed  without  confusion  or  a  single  straggler. 
The  Mercantile  Battery  of  Chicago,  in  the  charge  of  the  22 d  also 
added  to  its  previous  laurels.  The  battery  was  drawn  up  within 
twenty  feet  of  the  rebel  works  and  fired  into  their  embrasures,  using 
shrapnel  as  hand  grenades  and  setting  on  fire  the  cotton  piled  around 
their  earth-works.  This  position  they  held  until  relief  came.  So 
severe  was  the  fire  that  they  were  unable  to  draw  oif  their  guns, 
but  tumbled  them  down  a  steep  hill  into  a  ravine  from  which  they 
subsequently  removed  them.  Not  a  man  of  the  battery  was  either 
killed  or  wounded.  As  a  reward  for  their  bravery,  General  Me  Cler- 
nand  presented  them  with  two  Napoleon  guns,  captured  at  Big 
Black  River  Bridge.  Lieut.  White  brought  up  one  of  the  pieces  of 
the  battery  by  hand  almost  to  the  very  walls  of  the  fort,  and  double 
shotting  the  piece,  poured  a  most  destructive  fire  into  the  enemy. 


470  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS 

On  the  29th,  Dr.  Stevenson,  a  gallant  surgeon  of  the  17th  Illinoisy 
visited  the  very  front  line  of  skirmishers,  and  disdaining  the  advice 
of  the  men  in  the  rifle-pits,  refused  to  lie  down.  •  Presently  a  rebel 
sharpshooter  saw  him  and  fired  at  him,  mortally  wounding  him.  On 
the  same  day  Capt.  Rogers,  of  Co.  D,  1st  Illinois  artillery,  better 
known  as  McAllister's  battery,  sighted  one  of  his  guns  and  then 
leaped  upon  the  parapet  to  witness  the  effect  of  his  shot.  A  rebel 
bullet  struck  him  directly  in  the  forehead  and  the  gallant  officer  fell, 
dying  almost  instantly. 

In  the  assault  of  the  22d,  but  few  troops  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  vicinity  of  the  rebel  entrenchments.  Of  the  regiments  com 
posing  the  1st  brigade,  3d  division,  General  J.  E.  Smith,  the  20th 
Illinois  alone  crossed  an  open  space  in  front  of  a  formidable  fortifi 
cation,  exposed  to  a  furious  fire,  and  planted  its  colors  in  close 
proximity  to  the  rebel  works.  The  45th  Illinois  crossed  in  the  after 
noon  and  took  position  on  the  right  of  the  20th,  and  there  the  two 
regiments  remained  within  thirty  feet  of  the  rebel  fort  until  the  fol 
lowing  day,  when  they  were  recalled. 

As  an  instance  of  the  accuracy  of  aim  to  which  our  boys  attained, 
it  is  related  that  a  rebel  sharpshooter  had  taken  up  a  position  in  a 
tree,  protected  by  a  cotton-bale,  from  which  apparently  secure  perch 
he  was  accustomed  severely  to  annoy  our  troops.  Major  Taylor 
asked  the  Chicago  boys  if  some  of  them  could  not  hit  that  cotton 
bale.  One  of  the  guns  was  pointed  at  the  tree  and  the  trunk  was. 
cleft  just  below  the  crotch  in  which  rested  the  cotton  bale,  bringing 
both  bale  and  rebel  to  the  ground. 

On  the  night  of  the  22d  of  June,  the  rebels  made  a  s-ortie  from 
their  works  upon  our  advance  in  front  of  General  Lauman's  division. 
The  14th  Illinois  was  in  the  trenches  as  a  working  party  and  sup 
port.  No  videttes  were  out  and  the  men  were  surprised  and  driven 
from  the  trenches.  The  next  night  the  41st  Illinois  and  some  other 
regiments  took  possession  of  the  ground  from  which  the  14th  had 
been  driven.  They  were  hardly  at  work  before  the  rebels  again 
sallied  out,  and  approaching  the  trenches,  demanded  the  immediate 
surrender  of  our  troops  on  pain  of  annihilation.  Almost  simultane 
ously  with  the  insolent  demand,  the  Colonel  commanding  the  41st 
ordered  the  artillery  to  open  upon  them.  A  furious  fight  ensued,  re 
sulting  in  driving  the  rebels  back  to  their  works. 


GALLANTRY    OF   THE    LEAD    MINE    REGIMENT.  471 

On  tbe  30th  of  June,  McPherson's  corps  made  an  assault  on  the 
rebel  works,  for  which  they  had  been  preparing  for  several  days.  A 
little  before  4  o'clock,  a  heavy  cannonading  commenced  all  along  the 
lines,  and  the  whole  army  was  drawn  up  in  battle  array.  The  rebel 
Fort  Hill,  in  front  of  General  Logan,  which  he  had  been  steadily  ap 
proaching,  was  undermined  on  the  night  of  the  21st,  and  the  trains 
were  all  ready  to  spring.  The  45th  Illinois  regiment,  more  fami 
liarly  known  as  the  Washburn  Lead  Mine  Regiment,  Col.  Jasper  A. 
Maltby  commanding,  was  assigned  to  the  post  of  honor,  and  ordered 
to  occupy  the  breach  and  hold  it,  cost  what  it  might.  The  mine  was 
sprung,  creating  a  wide  embrasure  in  the  embankment,  into  which 
the  glorious  Lead  Mine  Regiment  plunged.  Fighting  their  way 
through  like  Spartan  heroes,  regardless  of  the  terrible  fire  which 
was  rapidly  thinning  their  numbers,  they  planted  their  flag  and  there 
maintained  it.  Col.  Maltby  was  wounded,  and  the  gallant  Lieut.  - 
Colonel,  Melancthon  Smith,  of  Rockford,  was  mortally  wounded  by  a 
ball  which  passed  through  his  head,  touching  the  brain.  Major  Lan 
der  B.  Fish,  who  a  short  time  before  had  been  promoted  from  a  cap 
taincy,  was  killed  by  a  bullet  through  the  heart.  Sergeants  Breezer 
and  Lewis  were  killed.  Capts.  Frohock  and  Boyce  were  severely 
wounded,  and  eight  sergeants,  three  corporals  and  forty-one  privates 
were  also  wounded  in  the  charge  through  the  embrasure.  There 
have  been  few  more  gallant  actions  in  the  war  than  this  charge,  and 
few  if  any  charges  which  have  been  made  so  desperately  and  deter 
minedly.  The  other  Illinois  regiments  which  participated  in  the 
splendid  movement  were  the  25th,  31st,  124th,  23d  and  56th,  and 
over  all  General  Logan,  worshiped  by  his  men — a  man  of  iron  will 
and  lion-like  courage,  who  seemed  under  the  blasts  of  war  to  change 
into  a  demi-god. 

Vicksburg  capitulated  on  the  4th  of  July,  the  anniversary  of 
American  independence — a  day  most  appropriate  of  all  to  witness 
the  culmination  of  the  great  events  which  had  been  transpiring 
around  the  doomed  city.  On  the  3d,  General  Grant  received  a  com 
munication,  under  flag  of  truce,  at  the  hands  of  General  Bowen, 
from  General  Pemberton,  proposing  an  armistice  to  arrange  terms 
for  capitulation.  The  rebel  General  desired  that  three  commission 
ers  should  be  selected  from  each  army  to  carry  out  this  arrangement 


472  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

and  thus  "  save  the  further  effusion  of  blood,  which  must  otherwise 
be  shed  to  a  frightful  extent."  General  Grant  curtly  replied  that 
the  effusion  of  blood  could  be  ended  at  any  time  by  an  unconditional 
surrender  of  the  city  and  garrison,  and  declined  the  appointment  of 
commissioners,  as  he  had  no  other  terms  to  propose.  General 
Bowen,  the  bearer  of  General  Pemberton's  letter,  was  received  by 
General  A.  J.  Smith,  and  expressed  a  strong  desire  to  see  General 
Grant.  The  latter  declined,  but  requested  General  Smith  to  say  that 
if  General  Pemberton  desired  to  see  him,  an  interview  would  be 
granted  between  the  lines  in  General  McPherson's  front.  A  mes 
sage  was  soon  sent  back  to  General  Smith  appointing  3  o'clock  as 
the  hour.  At  that  hour  the  interview  took  place.  The  rebels  in 
sisted  on  being  paroled  and  allowed  to  march  beyond  our  lines, 
officers  and  all,  with  eight  days'  rations.  General  Grant  sent  in  a 
written  reply  submitting  his  proposition,  which  was  to  the  following 
effect-:  He  was  to  march  in  one  division  as  a  guard,  and  take  pos 
session  at  8  A.  M.  on  the  next  day.  As  soon  as  paroles  could  be 
made  out  for  officers  and  men,  they  should  be  allowed  to  march  out 
of  our  lines,  the  officers  taking  with  them  their  regimental  clothing, 
and  staff,  field,  and  cavalry  officers  one  horse  each.  Any  amount  of 
rations  could  be  taken  and  thirty  wagons  for  transportation.  To 
these  terms  General  Pemberton  replied,  accepting  them  in  the  main, 
but  proposing  the  following  amendments  :  That  he  should  be  allowed 
to  evacuate  the  works  in  and  around  Vicksburg,  and  to  surrender 
the  city  and  garrison  under  his  command,  by  marching  out  with  his 
colors  and  arms  and  stacking  them  in  front  of  his  present  lines,  after 
which  General  Grant  was  to  take  possession.  Officers  were  to  re 
tain  their  side  arms  and  personal  property,  and  the  rights  and  pro 
perty  of  citizens  were  to  be  respected. 

To  this  General  Grant  immediately  replied  as  follows  : 

"HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  TENNESSEE,  ) 
"July  4,  1863.      f 

"  Lieut-Gen.  J.  O.  Pemberton,  Commanding  forces  in  Vicksburg  : 

"GENERAL: — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  your  communication  of  the  3d  of 
July.  The  amendments  proposed  by  you  cannot  be  acceded  to  in  full.  It  will  be 
necessary  to  furnish  every  officer  and  man  with  a  parole  signed  by  myself,  which, 
with  the  completion  of  the  rolls  of  prisoners,  will  necessarily  take  some  time. 
Again,  I  can  make  no  stipulation  with  regard  to  the  treatment  of  citizens  and  their 


CAPITULATION    OF   VICKSBURG.  473 

private  property.  While  I  do  not  propose  to  cause  any  of  them  any  undue  annoy 
ance  or'loss,  I  cannot  consent  to  leave  myself  under  restraint  by  stipulation.  The 
property  which  officers  can  be  allowed  to  take  with  them  will  be  as  stated  in  the 
proposition  of  last  evening.  Officers  will  be  allowed  their  baggage  and  side  arms, 
and  mounted  officers  one  horse  each.  If  you  mean  by  your  proposition  for  each 
brigade  to  march  to  the  front  of  the  lines  now  occupied  by  it  and  stack  their  arms 
at  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  and  then  return  to  the  inside  and  remain  as  prisoners  until  pro 
perly  paroled,  I  will  make  no  objections  to  it. 

"Should  no  notification  be  made  of  your  acceptance  of  my  terms  by  9  o'clock  A. 
M.,  I  shall  regard  them  as  having  been  rejected  and  act  accordingly.  Should  these 
terms  be  accepted,  white  flags  will  be  displayed  along  your  lines  to  prevent  such  of 
my  troops  as  may  not  have  been  notified  from  firing  upon  your  men. 

"I  am,  General,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  U.  S.  GRANT,  Maj.-Gen.  U.  S.  A." 

To  this  General  Pemberton  returned  the  following  brief  but  sat 
isfactory  answer : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  VICKSBURG,  July  4,  1S&3. 

"  Major-  General  U.  S.  Grant,  Commanding  U.S.  forces,  &c. : 

"GENERAL: — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  communica 
tion  of  this  date,  and  in  reply,  say  that  the  terms  proposed  by  you  are  accepted. 
"Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  J.  C.  PEMBERTON,  Lieut.-General." 

As  soon  as  the  ceremony  of  stacking  arms  was  over,  General 
McPherson  and  staff,  accompanied  by  his  division  generals,  rode  into 
the  city  and  took  formal  possession.  General  McPherson  proceeded 
to  the  court-house,  and  Col.  Coolbaugh  and  Lieut.-Col.  Strong,  of 
his  staff,  went  up,  and  at  11^-  o'clock  flung  to  the  breeze  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  on  the  cupola  of  the  building,  gave  three  cheers,  and 
sang  the  "  Battle  Cry  of  Freedom." 

At  12  o'clock  Logan's  splendid  division,  with  Ransom's  brigade, 
passed  High  Hill  Fort,  the  scene  of  their  recent  gallant  actions,  and 
marched  into  the  city.  At  the  head  of  the  column  was  the  heroic 
Lead  Mine  Regiment,  bravest  of  the  brave,  under  command  of  Capt. 
Seeley.  Col.  Maltby  rode  at  its  head,  but  too  ill  to  take  command. 
The  veteran  20th  followed,  under  Major  Bradley,  and  the  Commer 
cial  College  Regiment,  led  by  Col.  Sloan  of  Chicago,  and  the  gallant 
31st,  whose  chief,  Col.  Reese,  fell  at  the  storming  of  the  fort  on  the 
25th.  After  General  Logan's  division  came  General  Ransom's 
brigade,  a  noble  body  of  men  led  by  a  noble  leader,  with  their  ban- 


PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

ners  torn  and  riddled  in  many  a  desperate  battle.  Then  came  the 
veteran  llth  Illinois,  under  Col.  Coats,  and  the  95th,  under  the  fear 
less  Humphreys,  and  the  72d,  a  young  regiment  in  organization  but 
old  in  bravery,  under  Col.  Fred.  Starring. 

Among  the  bravest  and  best  of  the  officers  who  gave  up  their  lives 
to  attain  the  possession  of  Vicksburg,  was  Joseph  C.  Wright,  Lieut.  - 
Colonel  of  the  72d  Illinois.  It  will  be  recollected  that  lie  was 
severely  wounded  while  leading  his  regiment  to  the  assault  on 
Vicksburg  on  the  22d  of  May.  His  left  arm  was  amputated  on  the 
field  of  battle.  He  arrived  in  Chicago  about  two  weeks  afterwards 
among  his  family  and  friends,  and  strong  hopes  were  entertained  of 
his  complete  recovery.  He  gradually  foiled,  however,  until  the  6th 
of  July,  when  he  breathed  his  last  peacefully  and  calmly. 

Lieutenant- Colonel  Wright  was  born  in  Rome,  Oneida  County, 
New  York,  on  the  7th  of  January,  1821,  and  was  in  his  forty- third 
year  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  graduated  at  Capt.  Partridge's  mil- 
tary  school  in  Norwich,  Vermont,  and  afterwards  studied  law,  and 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Oswego,  New  York,  at  the  early  age  of 
twenty  years.  In  1853,  he  built  the  Continental  Elevator  at  the  lat 
ter  place,  and  about  that  time  abandoned  the  profession  of  the  law 
and  embarked  in  business.  About  the  year  1857,  he  came  to  Chicago, 
and  at  once  took  a  prominent  place  among  business  men.  In  all  his 
operations  he  was  bold,  persevering,  and  strictly  honest.  In  the 
crash  of  1857,  he  found  his  name  on  about  $40,000  worth  of  paper, 
none  of  it  his  own,  but  for  all  of  which  he  was  responsible.  Every 
single  dollar  of  it  was  paid.  He  was  honest  to  a  fault,  for  if  a  doubt 
existed  on  which  side  the  beam  turned,  he  always  made  it  a  rule  to 
decide  against  himself.  Even  in  tjie  dark  commercial  days  of  1857, 
when  every  creditor  was  eager  and  ready  to  compromise  on  the  first 
offer,  he  manfully  gave  up  every  dollar  he  had  to  pay  his  debts.  As 
a  merchant  and  a  man,  his  course  was  always  marked  by  the  strict 
est  integrity. 

As  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  of  Chicago,  he  eloquently 
urged  the  formation  of  those  regiments  which  bear  its  name,  and 
was  offered  the  colonelcy  of  the  first  that  was  raised — the  72d. 
Being  a  civilian,  he  modestly  declined  the  honor,  and  when  offered 
the  lieutenant-colonelcy  at  once  showed  his  sincerity  and  patriotic 


PATRIOTISM    OF  ILLINOIS.  475 

zeal  by  accepting  it,  although  at  great  pecuniary  loss  to  himself  and 
family.  During  the  long  period  from  his  enlistment,  to  the  invest 
ment  of  Vicksburg,  the  regiment  did  not  meet  the  enemy  in  battle ; 
but  on  the  22d  of  May,  when  General  Grant  ordered  the  assault, 
owing  to  the  illness  of  Col.  Starring,  he  assumed  entire  command  of 
the  regiment.  Not  satisfied  with  the  usual  position  of  an  officer, 
sword  in  hand,  he  led  his  men  clear  up  to  the  rifle-pits,  where  he 
received  his  death  wound.  H/3  died  a  true  soldier.  In  his  last 
moments  he  was  continually  talking  about,  military  movements,  giv 
ing  orders  to  his  regiment,  and  urging  on  his  men  to  the  charge. 
We  have  seen  him  as  a  merchant  and  soldier.  As  a  citizen,  he 
strictly  and  conscientiously  fulfilled  all  the  duties  of  life.  He  was 
not  only  a  professed  Christian,  but  one  who  practiced  his  Christianity 
by  carrying  it  into  all  the  details  of  every  day  life.  He  won  hosts 
of  friends  among  all  parties.  In  the  social  circle  few  had  such  con 
versational  powers,  or  used  those  powers  in  a  manner  so  entirely  free 
from  taint  or  corruption.  He  was  pre-eminently  a  lover  of  his  family 
hearth,  and  the  genuineness  of  his  patriotism  is  no  more  thoroughly 
shown,  than  by  the  sacrifice  it  cost  him  to  leave  his  home.  As  a 
speaker,  he  was  fluent,  and  gifted  with  an  eloquence  which  has  rare 
ly  been  excelled  west  of  the  lakes.  For  many  years  he  was  the 
leading  spokesman  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Trade,  which  has  boasted 
many  good  speakers. 

A  sincere  and  humble  Christian,  an  upright  and  honorable  man, 
a  sagacious  and  enterprising  merchant,  a  gallant  and  patriotic  sol 
dier,  a  true  man — he  laid  down  his  life  upon  the  altar  of  his  country, 
and  that  country  mourning  the  loss  of  so  many  of  her  sons  in  this 
wicked  rebellion,  has  lost  none  braver,  truer  or  nobler  than  Joseph 
C.  Wright. 


OHAPTEE    XXIX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  ILLINOIS  GENERALS — LIFE  AND  CAREER  OF  GEN. 

NAND — His  YOUTH — ON  THE  LAW  AND  IN  BUSINESS — ELECTED  TO  THE  LEGISLATURE — 
ADVOCACY  OF  GREAT  PUBLIC  MEASURES — ELECTED  TO  CONGRESS — BILLS  INTRODUCED — 
ENTERS  THE  SERVICE — His  CAREER  AS  A  GENERAL — RESIGNATION — LIFE  OF  GEN. 
LOGAN — CONGRESSIONAL  CAREER — IN  THE  SERVICE — PERSONAL  SKETCH — His  INFLU 
ENCE  AND  EXAMPLE — A  NOBLE  LETTER — LIFE  OF  GEN.  RANSOM — EARLY  DAYS  IN 
CHICAGO — ENTERS  THE  SERVICE — AT  VICKSBURG  AND  PLEASANT  HILLS — His  HERO- 
KM — LAST  ILLNESS — DEATH  OF  A  GALLANT  SOLDIER — GRAPHIC  DESCRIPTION  OF  His 
DEATH— SUMMARY  OF  His  CHARACTER — GEN.  MCARTHUR  AND  His  LIFE  AND  CAREER. 

JOHN  ALEXANDER  McCLERNAND  was  born  of  Scotch 
parents,  in  Kentucky,  and,  when  very  young,  went  with  his 
parents  to  Shawneetown,  111.  At  the  early  age  of  twenty  he  took 
an  honorable  position  at  the  bar,  in  the  practice  of  the  legal  profes 
sion.  In  1832,  he  volunteered  as  a  private  in  the  Black-Hawk  war, 
in  which  he  served  until  its  close,  and  during  which  he  performed 
many  gallant  actions,  among  them  that  of  bearing  a  dispatch  from 
Qeneral  Posey  nearly  one  hundred  miles  through  a  wild  country  in 
fested  by  hostile  Indians. 

After  the  war  his  health  was  so  impaired  that  it  would  not  allow 
him  to  resume  his  profession  and  he  consequently  engaged  in  more 
active  pursuits,  trading  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers.  In  1835 
he  established  the  first  Democratic  press  in  Shawneetown,  and  in  the 
same  year  re- commenced  the  practice  of  the  law.  In  1836  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Legislature  from  the  county  of  Gallatin.  During 
the  session  he  was  appointed  on  a  committee,  of  which  Douglas  was 
a  member,  to  investigate  charges  preferred  by  Governor  Duncan 
against  President  Jackson,  and  was  also  an  ardent  advocate  of  the 
"  deep-cut  plan,"  for  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal,  of  which  great 


tst  THE  L£aisLAttfK£.  477 

Work  he  Was  soon  after  elected  commissioner  and  treasurer.  In 
1838  the  office  of  Lieutenant- Governor  was  tendered  him,  which  he 
declined,  as  he  was  not  yet  of  the  constitutional  age — thirty  years. 

In  1840  he  was  elected  the  second  time  to  the  Legislature  from 
the  county  of  Gallatin.  During  the  session,  Mr.  McClernand,  in  n 
debate,  made  a  statement,  on  the  authority  of  Mr.  Douglas,  impugn  - 
ing  the  conduct  of  the  Supreme  Court,  to  which  Judge  Theophilus 
W.  Smith  took  exception,  and  sent  a  challenge,  which  was  promptly 
accepted.  He  repaired  to  the  appointed  spot  but  the  Judge  failed 
to  make  his  appearance. 

In  1839  he  was  nominated,  by  a  State  Convention,  as  one  of  the 
electors  to  support  Van  Buren  and  Johnson.  In  1842  he  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  for  the  third  time  from  Gallatin,  during 
which  session  he  brought  forward  amendments  to  the  banking  sys 
tem  of  the  State,  which  were  finally  adopted.  In  1843,  while  still  a 
member  of  the  Legislature,  he  was  elected  a  representative  to  the 
twenty-eighth  Congress.  His  first  speech  in  Congress  was  on  the 
bill  to  refund  the  fine  imposed  on  General  Jackson  by  Judge  Hall. 
During  the  same  session  he  made  speeches  on  the  Rhode  Island  con 
troversy  and  in  favor  of  the  repeal  of  the  second  section  of  the 
apportionment  law,  requiring  the  States-  to  elect  representatives  to 
Congress  by  single  districts.  During  this  session  he  also  brought 
forward,  as  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Public  Lands,  a  report, 
accompanied  by  a  bill,  for  a  grant  of  land  to  aid  in  the  completion 
of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal.  In  1844,  owing  to  a  change  of 
the  usual  time  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  another  election  for  rep 
resentatives  in  Congress  came  on  and  Mr.  McClernand  was  elected 
without  opposition.  He  was  one  of  the  members  who  insisted  upon 
the  "  fifty-four  forty,"  in  the  Oregon  controversy,  and  as  chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Public  Lands,  he  introduced  a  bill  to  grant  to 
the  State  of  Tennessee  the  public  lands  of  the  TTnited  States  lying 
within  her  borders.  During  the  first  session  of  the  twerity-ninth 
Congress,  he  introduced  the  bill  to  reduce  and  graduate  the  price 
of  the  public  lands.  At  the  ensuing  session  he  took  an  active  part 
in  favor  of  the  bill  to  bring  into  market  the  mineral  regions  around 
Lake  Superior. 

In  1846  he  was  again  elected  to  Congress  for  the  third  time,  and 


478  PATEIOTIBM    OF  ILLINOIS. 

again  without  opposition.  In  1848  he  was  re-elected,  but  not  with 
out  opposition.  In  1849,  as  one  of  the  members  of  a  select  commit 
tee,  he  submitted  a  minority  report  defending  the  action  of  President 
Polk  in  establishing  a  tariff  of  duties  in  the  ports  of  the  Mexican  Tie- 
public.  In  1850  he  prepared  and  offered  the  first  draft  of  the  famous 
compromise  measures  of  that  year,  and  in  the  same  session  drafted 
the  bill  granting  a  quantity  of  land  in  aid  of  the  construction  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  and  its  Chicago  branch. 

In  1851  he  retired  from  Congress  after  eight  years'  service  and  re 
moved  to  Jacksonville,  111.  In  1852  he  was  chosen  a  second  time 
an  elector  for  President,  and  voted  for  Pierce  and  King.  In  1856 
he  removed  to  Springfield,  111.  In  1859  he  was  elected  from  the 
capital  district  to  the  popular  branch  of  Congress  to  fill  the  vacancy 
caused  by  the  death  of  Col.  T.  L.  Harris. 

In  April,  1861,  at  the  instance  of  Governor  Yates,  being  still  a 
member  of  Congress,  he  accompanied  an  armed  volunteer  force  from 
Springfield  to  Cairo  and  occupied  that  place.  While  there  he 
caused  the  steamers  passing  from  St.  Louis  to  Louisville  and  other 
intermediate  points  in  Missouri  and  Kentucky,  to  be  brought  to  at 
Cairo,  and  thus  kept  from  the  rebel  agents  a  considerable  quantity 
of  arms  and  munitions.  This  was  the  first  time  the  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi  had  been  interfered  with  by  the  federal  authority. 
While  at  Cairo,  he  informed  himself  intimately  of  the  condition  of 
affairs  in  the  West  and  Southwest,  and  laid  them  before  Governor 
Yates  and  the  President.  In  July,  1861,  he  again  took  his  seat  in 
Congress,  but  shortly  after  resigned  and  returned  to  Illinois,  with 
written  authority  to  raise  a  brigade,  and  before  the  expiration  of 
August,  was  ordered  to  Cairo  by  General  Fremont,  assuming  com 
mand  there  on  the  5th  of  September. 

In  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  or  Shiloh,  Major- General 
McClernand  was  conspicuous  throughout.  His  division  was  en 
gaged  through  both  days  of  that  sanguinary  conflict,  and  bore, 
without  blemish,  the  honor  of  the  Prairie  State. 

After  the  battle  he  moved  his  division  cautiously  forward,  pro 
tecting  it  as  it  advanced* 

On  the  29th  of  April  he  was,  by  order  of  Major- General  Halleck, 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  third  division  of  the  Army  of  the 


4:79 

Tennessee,  Major-General  Wallace's,  the  fifth  division  of  the  Army 
of  the  Ohio,  commanded  by  Brigadier- General  Crittenden,  with  the 
cavalry  and  artillery,  including  the  siege  trains,  attached — these  with 
his  own  division  constituting  the  Army  Corps  of  the  Reserve.  A 
subsequent  order  assigned  the  5th  division  with  one  of  the  siege 
batteries  to  Major-General  Buell.  With  this  command  he  moved 
forward,  having  some  skirmishing,  and  destroying  railroad  and  tele 
graphic  communication,  until  the  pains-taking  strategy  of  General 
Halleck  gave  his  magnificent  army  possession  of  Corinth,  without 
its  army  of  Confederates,  without  its  munitions  or  guns.  From  a 
providential  point  of  view  it  is  not  now  difficult  to  see  that  such  was 
the  best,  but  from  a  military,  not  so  easy. 

Remaining  in  the  field  until  September,  he  was  ordered  to  re 
turn  to  Springfield  to  assist  Governor  Yates  in  organizing  the  volun 
teers  of  this  State  enlisted  under  the  call  for  600,000  men. 

Subsequently  he  commanded  the  13th  Army  Corps  in  the  expedi 
tion  against  Vicksburg  and  its  surroundings.  These  events  will 
hereafter  be  considered  in  their  order.  In  January,  1863,  he  com 
manded  what  he  denominated  "  The  Army  of  the  Mississippi," 
consisting  of  parts  of  two  Corps  d'armee,  namely,  the  ]  3th,  his 
own,  and  the  loth,  Major-General  Sherman's,  in  the  expedition  re 
sulting  in  the  reduction  and  capture  of  Arkansas  Post,  with  5,000 
prisoners,  seventeen  pieces  of  cannon,  large  and  small,  with  large 
quantities  of  small  arms,  swords,  ammunition,  etc. 

He  commanded  the  13th  Corps  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and 
during  it,  unfortunately,  the  harmony  subsisting  between  himself  and 
General  Grant  was  disturbed,  and  on  the  18th  of  June,  1863,  he 
was  relieved  of  his  command. 

Subsequently  General  McClernand  resigned  his  commission.  In 
the  presidential  contest  of  1864  he  took  part  for  Major- General 
McClellan  in  opposition  to  Mr.  Lincoln. 

In  his  address  of  May  31,  1863,  to  the  13th  Corps,  the  General 
thus  enumerated  the  doings  of  the  Corps  up  to  the  22d,  when  the 
unsuccessful  attack  was  made  on  the  defences  of  Vicksburg : 

"HEAD-QUARTERS,  ARMY  CORPS,       ) 
BATTLE-FIELD  IN  REAR  OF  VICKSBURG,  May  31,  1863.  t 

"General  Orders,  No.  72. 

"COMRADES:    As  your  commander,  I  am  proud  to  congratulate  you  upon  your 


480  fAT&lcmSM  OF  ILLINOIS. 


constancy,  valor  and  success.  History  affords  no  more  brilliant  example  of  soldierly 
qualities.  Your  victories  have  followed  in  such  rapid  succession  that  their  echoes 
have  not  yet  reached  the  country.  They  will  challenge  its  grateful  and  enthusiastic 
applause.  Yourselves  striking  out  a  new  path,  your  comrades  of  the  army  of  Ten 
nessee  followed,  and  a  way  was  thus  opened  for  them  to  redeem  previous  disap 
pointments.  Your  march  through  Louisiana,  from  Milliken's  Bend  to  New  Carthage 
and  Pekinss'  plantation,  on  the  Mississippi  River,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable  on 
record.  Bayous  and  miry  roads>  threatened  with  momentary  inundations,  obstructed 
your  progress.  All  these  were  overcome  by  unceasing  labor  and  unflagging  energy, 
The  two  thousand  feet  of  bridging  which  was  hastily  improvised  out  of  material? 
created  on  the  spot,  and  over  which  you  passed,  must  long  be  remembered  as  ft 
marvel. 

"Descending  the  Mississippi  still  lower,  you  were  the  first  to  cross  the  river  at 
Bruin's  Landing,  and  to  plant  our  colors  in  the  State  of  Mississippi,  below  Warren- 
ton.  Resuming  the  advance  the  same  day,  you  pushed  on  until  you  came  up  to  the 
enemy  near  Port  Gibson.  Only  restrained  by  the  darkness  of  the  night,  you  has 
tened  to  attack  him  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  of  May,  and  by  vigorously  pushing 
him  at  all  points,  drove  him  from  his  position,  taking  a  large  number  of  prisoners 
and  small  arms,  and  five  pieces  of  cannon.  General  Logan's  division  came  up  in 
time  to  gallantly  share  in  consummating  the  most  valuable  victory  won  since  the 
capture  of  Fort  Donelson. 

"Taking  the  lead>  on  the  morning  of  the  2d,  you  were  the  first  to  enter  Fort  Gib 
son,  and  to  hasten  the  retreat  of  the  enemy  from  the  vicinity  of  that  place, 
During  the  ensuing  night,  as  a  consequence  of  the  victory  at  Port  Gibson,  the  enemy 
epiked  his  guns  at  Grand  Gulf  and  evacuated  that  place,  retiring  upon  Vick&burg 
and  Edwards'  Station.  The  fall  of  Grand  Gulf  was  solely  the  result  of  the  victory 
achieved  by  the  land  forces  at  Port  Gibson.  The  armament  and  public  stores  cap- 
tured  there  are  but  just  trophies  of  that  victory. 

"  Hastening  to  bridge  the  south  branch  of  the  Bayou  Pierre,  at  Port  Gibson,  you 
crossed  on  the  morning  of  the  8d,  and  pushed  on  to  Willow  Springs,  Big  Sandy,  and 
the  main  crossing  of  Fourteen  Mile  Creek,  four  miles  from  Edwards'  Station.  A 
detachment  of  the  enemy  was  immediately  driven  away  from  the  crossing,  and  you 
advanced,  passed  Over,  and  rested  during  the  night  of  the  12th  within  three  miles 
of  the  enemy,  in  lafge  force  at  the  station. 

"On  the"  morning  of  the  13th,  the  objective  point  of  the  army's  movements  hav^ 
ing  been  changed  from  Edwards'  Station  to  Jackson,  in  pursuance  of  an  order  from 
the  commander  of  the  department,  you  moved  on  the  north  side  of  the  Fourteen 
Mile  Creek  toward  Raymond. 

"This  delicate  and  hazardous  movement  was  executed  by  a  portion  of  your  num 
ber,  under  cover  of  Hovey's  division,  which  made  a  feint  of  attack  in  line  of  battle 
upon  Edwards'  Station.  Tod  late  to  harm  you,  the1  enemy  attacked  the  rear  of  that 
division,  but  was  promptly  and  decisively  repulsed. 

"  Resting  near  Raymond  that  night,  on  the  morning  of  the  14th  you  entered  that 


481 

place,  one  division  moving  on  the  Mississippi  Springs,  near  Jackson,  in  support  of 
General  Sherman,  another  to  Clinton,  in  support  of  General  McPherson,  a  third  re 
maining  at  Raymond,  and  a  fourth  at  Old  Auburn,  to  bring  up  the  army  trains. 

"  On  the  loth  you  again  led  the  advance  toward  Edwards'  Station,  which  once 
more  become  the  objective  point.  Expelling  the  enemy's  picket  from  Bolton  the 
game  day,  you  seized  and  held  that  important  position. 

"On  the  16th  you  led  the  advance,  in  three  columns,  upon  three  roads  against 
Edwards'  Station.  Meeting  the  enemy  on  the  way  in  strong  force,  you  heavily  en- 
p'.god  him  near  Champion  Hill,  and  after  a  sanguinary  and  obstinate  battle,  with 
the  assistance  of  General  McPhcrson's  corps,  beat  and  routed  him,  taking  many 
prisoners  and  small  arms,  and  several  pieces  of  cannon. 

"  Continuing  to  lead  the  advance,  you  rapidly  pursued  the  enemy  to  Edwards' 
Station,  capturing  that  place,  a  large  quantity  of  public  stores,  arid  many  prisoners 
and  small  arms.  Night  only  stopped  you. 

"At  day-dawn,  on  the  17th,  you  resumed  the  advance,  and  early  coming  upon  the 
enemy  strongly  intrenched  in  elaborate  works,  both  before  and  behind  Big  Black 
River,  immediately  opened  with  artillery  upon  him,  followed  by  a  daring  and  heroic 
charge  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  which  put  him  to  rout,  leaving  eighteen  pieces 
of  cannon  and  more  than  a  thousand  prisoners  in  your  hands. 

"By  an  early  hour  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  you  had  constructed  a  bridge 
across  the  Big  Black,  and  had  commenced  the  attack  upon  Vicksburg." 

On  the  14th  of  February,  1864,  General  McClernand  assumed 
command  of  the  13th  army  corps,  then  dispersed  in  detachments 
from  Brownsville,  on  the  Rio  Grande,  to  New  Orleans  and  to  Port 
Hudson,  on  the  Mississippi  River,  and  was  dispatched  to  the  coast 
of  Texas.  He  arrived  at  Matagorda  Island  on  the  18th  of  May,  and 
established  his  headquarters  there.  Several  days  were  occupied  in 
a  thorough  inspection  of  the  garrison  at  various  points  and  in  pleas 
ant  interviews  with  Cortinas.  On  the  18th  of  April  he  embarked 
with  a  division  of  the  13th  corps  for  the  Red  River,  in  pursuance  of 
General  Banks'  orders,  and  on  the  24th  arrived  at  Alexandria,  upon 
which  place  General  Banks  had  retired  after  the  disastrous  battle  at 
Sabine  Cross  Roads.  He  participated  in  the  battles  attending  the 
retreat,  ordered  a  part  of  his  pioneer  corps  to  assist  in  constructing 
the  dam  which  relieved  the  gunboats.  He  fell  sick  at  Alexandria, 
arrived  at  Fort  De  Russy,  and  was  transferred  on  stretchers  to  the 
hospital  boat,  carried  to  New  Orleans,  and  arrived  at  Alton  on  the 
16th  of  June.  In  November,  1865,  he  tendered  his  resignation, 

which  was  accepted. 

31 


482  PATRIOTISM  otf  ILLINOIS. 

While  the  difficulty  between  General  Me  demand  and  General 
Grant  is  to  be  regretted,  it  is  due  to  the  former  to  state  that  he 
never  allowed  it  to  impair  his  efficiency.  We  believe  he  always  did 
his  duty  manfully  and  to  the  extent  of  his  ability.  Of  his  fighting 
qualities,  none,  either  friend  or  foe,  ever  doubted.  Although  the 
larger  part  of  his  life  had  been  spent  in  the  wordy  war  of  politics, 
he  entered  the  real  theater  of  war  as  a  trained  actor,  skilled  to  carry 
out  his  part.  He  was  identified  with  the  war  from  its  very  initia 
tion,  imbued  the  southern  part  of  Illinois,  where  he  was  a  great  favor 
ite,  with  the  military  spirit,  and  was  never  slow,  either  by  advice  or 
by  direct  physical  aid,  to  encourage  and  further  the  cause  of  the 
Union.  He  only  resigned  when  he  thought  that  his  services  had 
ceased  to  be  valuable,  looking  upon  his  removal  to  the  banks  of  the 
Rio  Grande  as  an  intimation  to  that  effect. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  LOGAN. 

John  A.  Logan,  the  Murat  of  Illinois  bravery,  was  born  in  Jack 
son  county,  Illinois,  February  9,  1826,  near  the  present  town  of  Mur- 
physboro.  His  father  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  removed  to  Illinois 
in  1823.  His  mother  was  from  Tennessee.  During  his  earlier  years 
he  had  few  educational  privileges,  as  at  that  early  day  in  Illinois, 
schools  were  the  exceptions,  and  their  advantages  were  of  the  most 
limited  nature.  His  education  was  obtained  largely  at  home  from 
his  father  and  from  hired  teachers,  and  in  1840  he  added  to  his  stock 
of  knowledge  by  attending  an  academy  in  his  county,  dignified  by 
the  name  of  Shiloh  College.  His  quick  perception  and  tenacious 
memory  enabled  him  thoroughly  to  improve  his  fugitive  advantages, 
and  retain  and  improve  what  he  acquired  at  the  schools. 

When  the  Mexican  war  broke  out,  although  at  that  time  but  a  lad 
of  nineteen,  he  volunteered,  and  was  elected  Lieutenant  of  a  com 
pany  commanded  by  James  Hampton,  of  Jackson  county,  in  the  1st 
regiment  Illinois  volunteers.  With  these  he  faithfully  served  his 
time,  his  career  being  marked  especially  by  coolness  and  unflinching 
bravery.  In  October,  1848,  he  returned  home  and  entered  upon  the 
study  of  the  law  in  the  office  of  his  uncle,  Alexander  M.  Jenkins, 
formerly  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Illinois,  and  while  thus  pursuing 
his  studies,  in  November,  1849,  was  elected  clerk  of  his  county, 
which  office  he  held  until  1850.  During  that  year  he  went  to  Louis- 


'THE    SERVICE  483 

Ville,  Ky.,  to  attend  law  lectures.  In  1851  he  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  returning  home,  commenced  the  practice  of  the  law  with 
his  uncle.  He  obtained  a  prominent  position  in  his  profession  almost 
immediately,  and  was  rapidly  elevated  by  his  wide-spread  popularity. 
In  1852  he  was  elected  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  then  3d  judicial 
circuit,  and  removed  to  Benton,  Franklin  county,  Illinois,  and  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  to  represent  the 
counties  of  Franklin  and  Jackson. 

On  the  27th  of  November,  1855,  he  was  married  at  Shawneetown 
to  Miss  Mary  S.  Cunningham,  daughter  of  John  W.  Cunningham, 
formerly  register  of  the  land-office  at  that  place.  In  May,  1856,  he 
was  appointed  Presidential  elector  for  the  9th  Congressional  district, 
and  at  the  November  election  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature.  In 
1858  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to  Congress  by  the  Democracy 
of  the  9th  district  over  his  Republican  opponent  by  a  large  majority. 
In  1860  he  was  re-elected  from  the  same  district.  In  the  winter  of 
1860,  by  the  action  of  the  Legislature,  his  county  was  thrown  out  of 
his  old  district  and  added  to  one  running  northward,  and  after  IILS 
return  he  removed  to  Marion,  Williamson  county,  that  he  might  still 
be  in  his  district, 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  and  during  the  extf  a  session  of  Con* 
gress,  in  July,  1861,  he  entered  the  ranks  of  Col.  Richardson's  regi* 
ment)  and  displayed  marked  bravery  at  the  disastrous  battle  of  Bull 
Run.  He  returned  home  in  1861,  fully  determined  to  devote  him 
self,  body  and  soul,  to  the  cause  of  his  country,  and  on  the  3d  of 
September,  made  a  speech  to  his  constituents,  in  which  he  declared 
his  intention  to  enter  the  service  as  a  "private,  or  in  any  manner  he 
'could  serve  his  •country  best  in  defending  and  bearing  the  old  blood* 
stained  flag  over  every  foot  of  soil  in  the  United  States.^  His  great 
popularity  and  the  wide-spread  influence  he  exerted,  for  in  his  dis 
trict  he  was  an  idol  among  the  people,  at  once  rallied  them  to  the 
cause,  and  on^he  16th  of  September,  the  81st  regiment  was  organ 
ized  at  Cairo  and  immediately  recommended  him  for  their  Colonel. 
He  was  appointed  to  the  post  and  held  his  commission  from  that 
date.  His  regiment  was  attached  to  General  McClernand's  brigade, 
and  although  only  organized  for  a  short  time,  and  having  had  only 
six  weeks'  drill,  the  heroic  part  taken  by  the  regiment  in  the  battle 


484  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

of  Belmont,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1861,  proved  the  qualities  of* 
their  commander,  how  active  he  had  been  in  instruction  and  how 
rigid  in  discipline.  He  commanded  his  regiment  through  the  most 
trying  circumstances  in  the  rear  of  Fort  Henry,  at  the  capture  of 
that  important  post,  and  in  command  of  200  cavalry  pursued  and 
captured  eight  of  the  enemy's  guns.  During  the  three  days'  siege 
and  attack  on  Fort  Donelson,  he  was  constantly  engaged  and  ren 
dered  the  most  valuable  service.  On  the  morning  of  the  15th  of 
February  he  was  wounded  while  rallying  his  men  when  their  ammu 
nition  was  nearly  exhausted,  although  they  were  hard  pressed  by  a 
superior  force.  The  bullet  entered  the  fore  part  of  the  left  arm 
near  the  point  of  the  shoulder,  passing  round  and  out  through  the 
shoulder.  Regardless  of  his  wound  and  despising  danger,  lie  kept 
on  the  field,  and  by  his  magnificent  bearing  and  personal  influence, 
kept  his  position  until  reinforcements  arrived,  when  he  was  forced  to 
retire,  weak  with  the  loss  of  blood  and  exhausted  with  fatigue,  to 
have  his  wounds  dressed.  He  remained  prostrated  for  three  weeks 
with  the  wound  in  his  shoulder,  lameness  from  being  struck  in  the 
hip  with  a  spent  ball,  and  disease  contracted  by  exposure. 

On  the  5th  of  March,  1862,  he  was  confirmed  as  Brigadier- General^ 
and  reported  to  General  Grant  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  who  assigned 
to  his  command  the  8th,  18th,  30th  and  31st  Illinois  and  12th  Michi 
gan  regiments,  of  which  he  retained  command  during  the  movement 
on  Corinth.  He  was  a  perfect  master  of  the  situation  before  Corinth, 
and  had  General  John  A.  Logan  commanded,  few  of  the  rebel  troops 
would  have  had  an  opportunity  to  escape.  He  repeatedly  insisted  on 
pressing  on,  but  the  orders  were  adverse  to  bringing  on  a  general  en 
gagement,  and  the  Halleckian  policy  would  not  allow  him  to  go  be 
yond  our  lines.  From  this  place  he  commanded  the  division  engaged 
in  re-building  the  road  to  Jackson  and  Columbus.  After  the  comple 
tion  of  the  road  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  forces  at  Jackson, 
Tenn.,  from  which  place,  under  date  of  August  26th,  he  sent  a  noble 
and  patriotic  letter  to  Hon.  O.  M.  Hatch,  Secretary  of  State,  of  Illi 
nois,  and  read  at  the  Union  convention  in  September,  1862,  declining 
to  become  a  candidate  for  Congress  for  the  State  at  large.  We  ap 
pend  some  extracts  from  this  letter : 

"  In  making  this  reply,  I  feel  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  enlarge  as  to  what  were, 


A   ITOBLE    LETTER.  485 

••are,  or  may  hereafter  be  my  political  views,  but  would  simply  state  that  politics  of 
every  grade  and  character  whatsoever  are  now  ignored  by  me,  since  I  am  convinced 
that  the  constitution  and  life  of  this  republic — which  I  shall  never  cease  to  adore — 
are  in  danger.  I  express  all  my  views  and  politics  when  I  assert  my  attachment  for 
the  Union.  I  have  no  other  politics  now,  and  consequently  no  aspirations  for  civil 
place  and  power. 

"No  !  I  am  to-day  a  soldier  of  this  Republic,  so  to  remain,  changeless  and  immu 
table  until  her  last  and  weakest  enemy  shall  have  expired  and  passed  awav.  Ambi 
tious  men,  who  have  not  a  toue  love  for  their  country  at  heart,  may  bring  forth 
erude  and  bootless  questions  to  agitate  the  pulse  of  our  troubled  nation  and  thwart 
the  preservation  of  this  Union,  but  for  none  of  such  am  I.  1  have  entered  the 
field — to  die  if  needs  be — for  this  Government,  and  never  expect  to  return  to 
peaceful  pursuits  until  the  object  of  this  war  for  preservation  has  become  a  fact 
established. 

"For  the  flattering  manner  in  which  you  have  seen  fit  to  allude  to  my  past  ser 
vices,  I  return  you  my  sincere  thanks;  but  if  it  has  been  my  fortune  to  bleed  and 
suffer  for  my  dear  country,  it  is  all  but  too  little  compared  to  what  I  am  willing 
again  and  again  to  endure  ;  and  should  fate  so  ordain  it,  I  will  esteem  it  as  the 
highest  privilege  a  just  Dispenser  can  award,  to  shed  the  last  drop  of  blood  in  my 
veins  for  the  honor  of  that  flag  whose  emblems  are  justice,  liberty  and  truth,  and 
which  has  been,  and,  as  I  humbly  trust  in  God,  ever  will  be  for  the  right. 

"  In  conclusion,  let  me  request  that  your  desire  to  associate  my  name  with  the 
high  and  honorable  position  you  would  confer  upon  me,  be  at  once  dismissed,  and 
some  more  suitable  and  worthy  person  substituted.  Meanwhile  I  shall  continue  to 
look  with  unfeigned  pride  and  admiration  on  the  continuance  of  the  present  able 
conduct  of  our  State  affairs,  and  feel  that  I  am  sufficiently  honored  while 
acknowledged  as  an  humble  soldier  of  our  own  peerless  State." 

Fitting  words  for  a  hero,  and  worthy  to  be  framed  in  gold.  That 
letter  may  challenge  the  whole  literature  of  the  war  to  find  its  equal 
in  sincere  patriotism,  native  manliness  and  dignity.  It  is  no  vain 
boasting.  Every  line  and  letter  of  it  has  been  more  than  sustained 
in  the  course  pursued  by  General  Logan.  Of  his  important  service 
in  the  battles  preliminary  to  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  the  promi 
nent  part  he  took  in  the  siege  of  that  city,  we  have  already  spoken. 
He  nobly  sustained  the  honor  of  his  state  and  his  own  fame  through 
those  trying  months  of  exposure  and  battle.  The  citizens  of  his 
State  have  also  followed  him  with  pride  through  the  terrible  battles 
in  Northern  Georgia,  and  found  that  his  name  was  always  the  signal 
of  success.  In  the  election  canvass  of  1864,  he  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  government,  and  threw  himself  into  it  with  all  the  ardor  of 


486  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

his  fiery  nature.  The  same  influence  which  had  rallied  the  mew  of 
Egypt  by  thousands  around  the  Stars  and  Stripes,  was  again  brought 
to  bear  upon  them  for  what  he  deemed  the  best  of  causes.  Former 
political  opinions  were  laid  aside  or  buried.  He  worked  like  a  giant, 
and  with  his  rare  and  matchless  eloquence,  and  fascinating  personal 
magnetism  so  won  the  people  of  Southern  Illinois,  that  they  once 
more  as  in  old  times,  hailed  him  as  their  leader,  and  followed  his 
guidance.  He  advocated  the  cause  of  the  Union  on  the  stump  as 
vigorously  and  thoroughly  as  he  had  advocated  it  in  the  field  with 
more  compulsory  weapons,  and  this  without  any  meretricious  ide-.i  or 
hope  of  preferment.  He  had  repeatedly  declined  offices  tendered 
him,  always  saying  that  he  was  a  soldier  of  the  Union,  and  that  he 
should  not  leave  the  service  nor  lay  down  the  sword  as  long  as  there 
was  a  rebel  in  arms  against  the  government.  With  his  promotion 
to  a  Major- Generalship,  his  prowess  in  the  march  upon  Atlanta,  his 
gallant  deeds  in  the  battles  around  that  city,  and  his  participation  in 
the  marches  through  the  Carolinas,  our  readers  are  familiar.  They 
are  appropriate  episodes,  each  taking  its  place  harmoniously  in  the 
record  of  his  eventful  and  patriotic  life.  Of  his  personal  appear 
ance  a  writer  well  says : 

"  Were  one  to  pass  our  Generals  in  review,  and  endeavor  from  their 
countenances  to  select  the  man  with  the  most  gunpowder  in  his  dis 
position,  he  would  undoubtedly  choose  Gen.  John  A.  Logan.  He  is 
marked  by  a  square,  massive  frame  of  medium  bight,  a  countenance. 
swarthy  as  that  of  an  Indian,  jet  black  hair,  and  eyes  of  the  most 
piercing  blackness.  The  general  ferocity  of  his  appearance  is  not 
detracted  from  by  a  heavy  black  moustache,  whose  ends  drop  below 
his  jaw  on  either  side,  and  this  effect  is  Lightened  by  a  broad,  short 
neck,  like  that  of  a  bull  or  gladiator.  And  yet,  when  the  General's 
countenance  is  not  lighted  by  the  glow  of  battle,  his  swarthy  face  is 
sunny  with  good  nature,  and  his  eyes  ablaze  with  fun  and  good 
humor.  No  commander  in  the  army  is  more  popular  with  his  men 
than  he  ;  their  love  for  him  as  a  man  is  only  equaled  by  their  con 
fidence  in  him  as  a  leader.  In  all  operations  he  is  omnipresent, 
encouraging  his  men  with  advice,  urging  them  on  with  some  funny 
joke,  ever  at  their  head  in  battle,  only  happy  when  moving,  and  only 
completely  happy  when  hurling  his  invincible  brigades  against  the 
enemy.'* 


BMC  .GER.T.E.G.RANSGM.T7  S  .VOLE 


PA-mCTlSM   OFJUJITOIS".  a^KS 


BRIGADIER-GENERAL    RANSOM.  487 

In  his  peculiar  personal  magnetism  and  the  influence  he  possesses 
over  men,  he  resembles  the  lamented  Douglas.  Plis  eye  is  com 
manding  and  piercing ;  his  voice  strong,  yet  musical  and  sympathetic 
and  his  utterances  rapid  but  distinct.  Few  men  so  trouble  the  fast 
pens  of  the  phonographers  as  he.  As  his  nature  is  passionate  and 
vehement,  so  is  his  speech,  and  when  warmed  up  with  the  occasion, 
he  is  master  of  all  the  powers  of  logic  and  argument,  appeal  and 
invective.  There  is  not  a  more  courageous  heart  or  fearless  arm 
now  defending  the  country  than  John  A.  Logan's. 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  T.  E.  G.  RANSOM. 

Young,  heroic  and  handsome,  brave,  enthusiastic  and  manly,  cour 
ageous  as  a  lion  and  tender  as  a  woman,  no  man  so  completely 
recalls  the  best  qualities  of  the  days  of  chivalry  as  Thomas  Edwin 
Greenfield  Ransom.  No  braver  heart  has  been  laid  upon  the  coun 
try's  altar,  no  clearer  head  has  bowed  before  the  great  destroyer,  no 
more  unsullied  sword  has  been  hung  upon  the  wall.  Yielding  up 
his  life  in  the  very  flower  of  his  youth,  he  will  remain  in  memory 
ever  young. 

General  Ransom  was  born  at  Norwich,  Madison  county,  Vermont, 
on  the  29th  of  November,  1834.  His  father,  Col.  Trueman  B.  Ran 
som,  was  born  in  Woodstock,  Vt.,  in  1803,  and  was  for  sometime 
President  of  the  Norwich  University  in  that  State.  In  this  school 
the  military  element  was  made  prominent.  The  students  were  train 
ed  in  the  manual  of  arms,  and  during  an  extended  tour  in  the  sum 
mer  of  1845,  in  which  the  cadets  attracted  great  attention,  young 
Ransom  accompanied  them.  The  military  element  of  the  school 
made  a  deep  impression  upon  him.  His  father  at  that  time  was  a 
major-general  of  militia  of  the  State  of  Vermont.  On  the  outbreak 
of  the  Mexican  War,  he  was  appointed  colonel  of  the  9th  U.  S. 
Infantry.  After  participating  in  several  battles  and  winning  for  him 
self  a  national  fame,  he  fell  at  the  storming  of  Chepultepec,  in  Sep 
tember,  1847.  His  death  created  a  deep  impression,  for  his  career- 
had  been  brilliant  and  brave.  During  the  Mexican  war,  young  Ran 
som  was  taught  engineering  under  the  tuition  of  his  cousin,  B.  F. 
Marsh,  on  the  Rutland  and  Burlington  Railroad.  After  his  father's 
death  he  returned  to  the  military  school,  and  continued  there  until 


488  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

the  spring  of  1851,  at  which  time  ho  removed  to  Peru,  Lasalle  Co., 
Illinois,  to  engage  in  the  practice  of  the  engineering  profession.  In 
1854,  he  embarked  in  the  real  estate  business  with  his  uncle,  under 
the  name  of  Gilson,  Ransom  &  Co.  In  the  latter  part  of  1855,  the 
firm  removed  to  Chicago,  and  became  largely  engaged  in  real  estate 
operations  under  the  name  of  A.  J.  Galloway  &  Co.  He  aftenvnrd 
carried  on  the  same  business  in  the  firm  of  Bell  &  Ransom.  Mr. 
Gilson  having  died  in  September,  1856,  he  then  removed  to  Fayette 
County,  Illinois,  and  while  engaged  in  trade,  acted  as  agent  for  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company.  He  was  there  when  the  war 
broke  out.  He  threw  himself  into  the  Union  cause  with  all  the 
ardor  of  his  nature.  He  raised  a  company  in  that  county,  and  arriv 
ed  at  Camp  Yates,  April  24,  1861.  This  company  was  organized 
into  the  llth  Illinois  regiment,  and  on  an  election  for  field  officers, 
he  was  elected  Major.  The  regiment  was  ordered  at  once  to  Villa 
Ridge  near  Cairo,  and  there  remained  in  camp  of  instruction  until 
June,  when  it  was  ordered  to  Bird's  Point,  Mo. 

On  July  30th,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the  three  months' 
service  and  a  large  majority  of  the  regiment  went  into  the  three 
years'  service.  On  the  reorganization,  Major  Ransom  was  elected 
Lieutenant-Colonel.  The  Colonel  of  the  regiment  was  most  of  the 
time  commanding  either  the  post  or  a  brigade,  and  thus  the  com 
mand  and  discipline  devolved  almost  entirely  upon  the  young  Lieut. - 
Colonel.  He  gave  his  time  and  attention  to  his  men,  and  conscien 
tiously  and  gradually  brought  them  to  that  pitcli  of  military  per 
fection  which  subsequently  rendered  the  regiment  famous. 

On  the  22d  of  August,  he  led  his  regiment  against  a  large  force  of 
rebels  under  Major  Hunter,  concentrated  at  Charleston,  Mo.  The 
regiment  made  a  most  gallant  fight  and  captured  fifty  horses  and 
men.  Col.  Ransom  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder  by  a  mounted 
rebel,  who  pretended  to  surrender,  but  fired  upon  him  as  he  ap 
proached  to  take  his  arms.  Col.  R.  immediately  fired  upon  the 
traitor  and  killed  him.  At  Fort  Donelson  the  conduct  of  Col.  Ran 
som  was  gallant  in  the  extreme.  He  was  again  shot  in  the  shoulder 
but  he  refused  to  leave  the  field  until  the  fight  was  ended.  His 
clothes  were  pierced  by  six  or  eight  bullet  holes  and  his  horse  was 
killed  under  him.  Fatigue,  cold,  wounds  and  exposures,  brought  on 


GEN.  KANSOM'S  KEGIMENT.  489 

a  long  sickness,  but  still  he  was  devoted  to  his  men,  and  when  they 
moved  from  place  to  place  he  was  carried  in  an  ambulance.  For  his 
bravery  and  skill  in  this  battle  he  was  promoted  to  the  colonelcy  of 
his  regiment. 

At  Shiloh  he  was  the  bravest  of  the  brave.  He  led  his  regiment 
through  the  thickest  of  the  bloody  fight,  and  though  wounded  in  the 
lie  ad,  still  clung  to  his  regiment.  He  assisted  General  Me  demand 
in  rallying  an  Ohio  regiment  that  was  falling  back,  and  compelled 
them  to  move  forward  with  his  own  command  upon  a  rebel  battery. 
In  the  official  report  of  this  battle  General  McClernand  spoke  of  him 
at  a  critical  moment  "  performing  prodigies  of  valor,  though  reeling 
in  his  saddle  and  streaming  with  blood  from  a  serious  wound." 
The  following  evidence  of  the  gallantry  of  his  regiment  is  taken 
from  a  private  letter  : 

"  It  was  nearly  half  a  mile  from  our  encampment  to  the  position 
where  the  enemy  had  attacked  -us.  The  order  for  '  double  quick' 
was  given,  and  we  were  soon  on  the  field  of  action.  We  had  not  to 
wait  long,  for  soon  in  front  of  us  was  seen — not  three  hundred  yards 
distant — the  enemy,  five  regiments  deep,  advancing  steadily.  It  was 
a  glorious  but  a  terrible  sight.  The  order  was,  '  The  whites  of  their 
eyes,  boys,  and  then  give  it  to  them,'  and  the  llth  was  again  en 
gaged.  Never,  never  in  my  life  have  I  seen,  or  in  the  annals  of  his 
tory  have  I  read  of  such  a  death-struggle. 

"  Our  men  fought  well  at  Fort  Donelson,  but  never  did  they  fight 
as  they  fought  on  the  6th  of  April.  The  enemy  were  repulsed ; 
they  stood  for  a  moment  seemingly  thunderstruck,  and  then  broke 
their  ranks  and  started  to  fly.  The  officers  rallied  them,  and  then, 
under  a  most  galling  fire,  commenced  retrieving  their  lost  ground. 
Our  regiment  being  badly  cut  up — Col.  Ransom  shot  in  the  head  (not 
mortally),  Capt.  Carter  dead,  Capt.  Coats  mortally  wounded,  five  or 
six  of  our  lieutenants  down,  and  no  reserve  coming  to  our  assistance 
—the  order  was  given  to  fall  back.  We  gradually,  but  obstinately, 
fell  back.  We  were  soon  cheered  by  the  assistance  of  several  reg 
iments  coming  up,  who  filed  in  our  front,  and  we  were  for  a  time 
relieved.  We  fell  back — and  what  a  sight !  Not  one  hundred  men 
remained  in  the  llth  !  It  was  an  awful  sight  to  look  at  that  little 
band,  besmeared  with  blood  and  dirt,  with  their  trusty  guns  in  their 


490  PATEIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

hands,  looking  along  the  line  to  see  how  many  of  their  beloved  com 
panions  were  left  to  them.  It  was  a  sight  I  never  wish  to  see  again. 
But  there  was  little  time  to  lose,  and  no  time  to  complain.  General 
McClernand  came  up,  and  asked  if  that  was  all  that  was  left  of  the 
llth.  'Yes,'  was  the  reply.  '  Well,  my  men,'  he  said,  'we  must 
win  this  day,  or  all  will  be  lost.  Will  you  try  it  again  ?'  '  We  will, 
General,'  was  the  response.  The  boys  called  on  me  to  lead  them. 
I  formed  the  regiment  (or  company,  as  it  was)  on  the  left  of  the  70th 
Ohio  regiment,  and  was  again  ordered  to  take  our  position  in  front. 
Ten  minutes'  time  and  we  were  again  engaged." 

In  the  spring  of  1863  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier- 
General,  to  date  from  November  29  (his  birthday),  1862,  for  distin 
guished  service  on  the  field  of  Shiloh  and  at  the  siege  of  Corinth. 
Many  of  his  gallant  actions  during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  we  have 
already  recorded,  especially  the  heroic  part  he  took  in  the  disastrous 
assaults  of  May  22d.  In  the  equally  disastrous  Red  River  expe 
dition,  his  coolness  and  bravery  at  the  battle  of  Pleasant  Hill  un 
doubtedly  saved  the  detachment  of  the  13th  army  corps  which  he 
commanded  from  overwhelming  defeat  and  ruin. 

Gen.  Ransom  was  four  times  wounded.  At  Charleston,  Missouri, 
August  19,  1861  ;  at  Fort  Donelson,  February  15,  1862  ;  at  Shiloh, 
April  6,  1862  ;  and  at  Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  April  8,  1864.  His  wound 
at  the  latter  place  was  very  severe,  and  he  returned  to  Chicago  for 
rest.  He  had  been  in  continual  active  service  almost  from  the  out 
break  of  the  war  without  any  relaxation ;  but  even  before  his  wound 
was  quite  well,  feeling  that  his  presence  was  needed  in  Georgia,  he 
removed  to  the  front.  Through  the  remainder  of  the  summer  he 
was  in  good  health,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  campaign  which 
gave  us  Atlanta. 

In  the  early  part  of  October  he  was  taken  sick  with  dysentery. 
As  his  command  had  been  ordered  to  Rome,  he  started  with  it,  al 
though  his  disease  was  continually  weakening  him.  Sometimes  he 
rode  in  an  ambulance,  but  always  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  and 
sometimes  took  the  saddle  as  the  advance  guard  became  engaged 
with  the  enemy.  Generals  Sherman  and  Howard  and  the  medical 
directors  begged  him  to  allow  himself  to  be  reported  sick,  but  his 
decision  was  unalterable.  "  I  will  stay  with  my  command  until  1 


DEATH    OF    GEN.    RANSOM.  4:91 

leave  in  my  coffin"  was  his  final  answer.  On  the  26th  of  October, 
still  OH  the  move,  there  was  a  change  for  the  worse,  and  his  death 
was  hourly  expected,  but  his  vigorous  constitution  and  iron  will  car 
ried  him  through  the  relapse.  An  army  chaplain  gives  the  following 
graphic  and  mournful  picture  of  his  death  : 

"  Late  at  night  of  October  7th,  our  regiment  received  orders  to 
prepare  to  march  at  5  o'clock  next  morning  as  an  escort  to  General 
Ransom,  who,  being  very  sick,  was  to  be  sent  to  Rome.  The  Gene- 
era!  was  in  high  favor  with  Sherman,  who  sent  for  him  to  take  an 
important  command,  after  he  had  sufficiently  recovered  from  his 
wounds  received  on  the  Red  River  expedition  under  Banks.  After 
Atlanta  had  fallen  he  had  been  placed  in  command  of  the  17th 
corps,  during  the  absence  of  General  Blair,  who  was  home  on  leave. 
He  had  been  for  two  or  three  weeks  suffering  from  a  severe  attack 
of  dysentery,  and  for  some  days  it  had  been  necessary  to  carry  him 
on  a  bed  in  an  easy  spring  wagon.  Arriving  at  Galesville  he  was 
obliged  to  give  up.  He  was  provided  with  good  quarters  in  a 
house,  but  in  spite  of  the  best  care  he  grew  worse.  And  now  the 
army  was  to  move.  To  leave  him  behind  to  the  tender  mercies  of 
the  '  chivalry,'  was  but  to  abandon  him  to  robbery  and  murder.  He 
was  very  low.  Few  thought  he  would  get  to  Rome  alive.  A  com 
fortable  litter  was  provided,  with  a  little  canopy  of  hoops,  etc.,  as  a 
protection  to  his  head  from  the  sun  and  wind,  and  he  was  to  be  car 
ried  upon  the  shoulders  of  four  strong  men,  in  relays,  relieving  each 
other  every  fifteen  minutes. 

•  "  Soon  after  we  had  started  we  passed  General  Sherman's  head 
quarters.  He  sent  an  order  to  the  regiment  to  halt,  and  came  out  to 
see  General  R.  i  How  are  you,  Ransom  ?'  said  he.  *  How  are  you 
getting  on?'  t  Oh,  finely,  thank  you.'  '  Quite  an  Oriental  style  of 
traveling  you  are  indulging  yourself  in.'  4  It  is  wonderfully  easy 
and  comfortable,  General,'  said  Ransom.  'Well,  keep  up  good 
heart,  my  boy,  I  shall  follow  you  soon,  and  be  near  you  during  the 
day.  I  hope  the  change  will  restore  you.'  '  Which  way  are  you 
going,  Colonel  ?'  said  he,  to  the  commanding  officer.  c  Right  ahead,' 
was  the  reply. 

"  '  Oh,  you  had  better  countermarch;  take  this  wagon-path  through 
the  brush,  here ;  cross  the  Chatooga  river  at  a  temporary  bridge  you 


492  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

will  iind  about  a  half-mile  from  here  and  thus  save  eight  miles  travel.' 
I  mention  this  as  showing  the  minuteness  of  observation  for  which 
Sherman  is  so  remarkable.  Indeed,  close  observance  of  details  is  a 
characteristic  of  all  who  have  become  distinguished  for  great  quali 
ties.  And  it  is  another  peculiarity  which  distinguishes  them  that 
they  are  apt  to  be  misunderstood.  In  the  iirst  years  of  the  war 
Sherman  was  called  crazy,  because  he  saw  so  much  further  than 
those  under  whose  orders  he  served,  that  they  could  not  understand 
him;  therefore  he  was  called  insane.  Those  who  stand  upon  the 
watch-towers  survey  a  much  wider  horizon  than  the  multitude  below. 
4  Geniuses  are  the  world's  madmen.' 

"  The  day  was  pleasant  and  we  proceeded  on  our  way  at  a  good 
rate  of  speed ;  those  strong  men  carrying  the  patient  as  gently  as 
an  infant  is  rocked  in  its  cradle,  and  making  some  twelve  or  thirteen 
miles.  At  night  General  Ransom  appeared  better,  and  the  next 
morning  having  had  refreshing  sleep,  felt  courageous  for  continuing 
his  journey.  Ten  miles  more  were  made  by  noon,  when  it  began  to 
be  apparent  that  his  strength  was  rapidly  failing.  Reaching  a  house 
six  miles  west  of  Rome,  we  halted.  He  was  carried  in  and  placed 
in  a  comfortable  bed.  But  it  was  evident  his  end  was  fast  ap 
proaching.  His  great  fortitude  had  thus  far  sustained  in  him  the 
belief  that  he  might  yet  survive.  But  the  signs  of  dissolution  were 
now  unmistakable,  and  it  was  time  to  announce  to  him  the  inevitable 
fact.  He  received  it  with  the  same  calm  courage  with  Avhich  he 
had  so  often  before  stood  face  to  face  with  death.  He  sent  mes 
sages  of  love  and  farewell  to  friends.  He  said  :  '  Tell  my  mother  I 
am  not  afraid  to  die.  My  chief  regret  is  that  I  cannot  be  spared  to 
serve  my  country  longer ;  and,  if  I  must  die,  that  it  cannot  be  with 
my  armor  on,  confronting  her  enemies.'  He  adjusted  all  his  business, 
and  gave  directions  as  to  the  disposal  of  his  effects  and  of  his 
mortal  remains,  to  Capt.  Cadle  and  another  member  of  his  staff  who 
stood  by  him  with  almost  womanly  tenderness  and  assiduity  in  his 
last  hours,  as  indeed  they  had  all  through  his  sickness.  I  said  to 
him  :  '  You  have  a  family,  General  ?'  '  A  mother  and  near  relatives  ; 
but  I  am  not  married,  nor  am  I  engaged.'  '  You  are  not  yet  thirty  ?' 
I  said.  '  I  should  be  thirty  in  November.' 

"  When  very  near  his  end,  General  Wm.  P.  Carlin,  commanding  a 


SIS    CHARACTER. 

division  of  the  14th  corps,  which  was  passing,  came  tip  and  called 
to  see  him.  Ho  was  almost  breathing  his  last ;  but  rousing  himself, 
with  an  effort,  on  hearing  his  voice,  and  looking  and  speaking  almost 
as  if  his  spirit  had  departed  and  for  a  moment  returned  to  make 
itself  again  manifest)  he  greeted  General  C.  with  all  the  courtesy 
and  grace  of  language  for  which  he  was  noted.  As  the  General 
afterwards  said :  *  He  received  me  with  the  same  dignity  and  grace 
as  if  he  were  entertaining  a  distinguished  guest  in  his  best  estate  at 
his  private  quarters.'  Scarcely  had  General  Carlin  retired  when 
he  breathed  his  last.  After  repeated  messages  of  gratitude  to  the 
faithful  men  who  had  carried  him  so  far  and  so  gently,  and  also  to 
Dr.  Ormsby  and  others  who  had  watched  by  and  tended  him  so  long 
and  faithfully,  he  said  he  felt  like  sleeping ;  arid  he  went  to  sleep 
'  among  the  eternal,'  as  calmly  as  the  sun  went  down  that  mild 
October  evening,  amid  fleecy  clouds  of  golden  glory.  Yes,  we  did 
escort  him  home;  but  arrived  there  only  with  his  cold  remains." 

His  body  was  brought  to  Chicago  and  interred  with  impressive 
ceremonies,  and  amid  the  deep  grief  of  thousands  who  knew  him. 
We  cannot  better  sum  up  the  character  of  the  deceased  hero,  than 
in  the  words  of  the  clergyman  who  preached  the  funeral  sermon, 
Rev.  W.  H.  Ryder,  D.D.: 

"  1.  General  Ransom  was  retiring  and  unostentatious.  There  was 
no  strut  about  him.  He  was  simple  in  his  manners — quiet,  unob 
trusive.  In  a  company  of  gentlemen  he  would  not  have  been  select 
ed  as  a  military  man,  according  to  the  popular  estimate.  His  power 
was  always  in  reserve  for  occasions—and  the  greater  the  occasion, 
the  deeper  the  peril,  the  more  capable  did  he  show  himself  to  be.  Am 
bitious — meaning  thereby  desire  of  power  or  eminence — he  was  not. 
His  ambition  was  to  honor  his  country — the  service — to  quit  himself 
as  a  man  should,  acting  in  such  a  presence,  and  such  an  hour. 
Whether  General  Ransom  would  have  arisen  to  the  rank  of  a  great 
leader—^,  e.,  whether  he  would  have  gained  a  still  higher  grade,  and 
filled  it  with  the  same  distinguished  success  which  graced  all  the 
positions  he  occupied,  is  now  a  question  which  can  never  be  deci 
sively  answered,  and  which,  perhaps,  it  is  not  worth  while  to  tarry 
long  to  consider.  One  thing  is  quite  certain :  had  he  been  the  chief 
in  command  of  the  famous  Red  River  expedition,  that  blundering 


494  ]?Af3itoTrsM  OF  ILLINOIS, 

campaign,  if  undertaken  at  all,  would  have  had  a  very  different:- 
issue.  And  it  is  a  pretty  safe  rule,  that  he  who  does  best  when  most 
is  demanded,  is  capable  of  doing  more  than  he  has  ever  yet  done. 

"  2.  General  Ransom  was  a  kind,  pleasant,  sympathetic  man.  He 
had  a  sunny  face,  a  clear,  cheerful  eye.  He  attached  people  to  him  ; 
they  loved  him,  for  he  was  good;  they  honored  him  for  he  was 
brave.  There  are  those  here  who  knew  the  kindness  of  his  heart, 
and  who  loved  him  with  all  the  reverence  of  grateful  affection.  A 
dutiful  son,  an  appreciative  relative,  a  faithful  friend,  a  patriot  hero, 
he  deserves  well  of  his  countrymen,  and  will  long  be  honored  in  the 
sanctuaries  of  a  thousand  hearts. 

"  3.  General  Ransom's  patriotism  and  high  moral  tone  proceeded 
from  conviction — were  the  outgrowth  of  inward  stability.  The 
springs  of  his  action  were  deep.  He  was  true  in  danger  and  uni 
formly  prepared  for  the  duty  when  it  came.  Hence,  also,  he  did  not 
degenerate  into  the  temptations  which  beset  the  service,  or  lose  that 
strength  which  comes  from  Christian  integrity.  These  traits  would 
have  served  him  in  any  calling.  And  had  he  lived  to  the  allotted  age 
of  man,  it  is  more  than  probable  he  would  have  held  fast  to  the 
principles  which  distinguished  his  youth,  and  ended  his  career  in  a 
life  of  the  largest  usefulness." 

GENERAL  McARTHUR. 

JOHN  McAETHUR  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Erskine,  Renfrewshire) 
Scotland,  November  16,  1826.  He  was  sent  to  school  at  the  usual 
age,  and  displayed  such  proficiency  and  aptitude  in  learning  his 
tasks  that  he  attracted  the  attention  of  the  parish  minister,  who  de 
sired  to  educate  him  for  the  ministry.  The  boy  had  a  mechanical 
turn  of  mind  and  was  fond  of  working  in  his  father's  shop.  In  his 
own  words  at  that  time,  he  preferred  to  be  "Jock,  the  Smith,"  rather 
than  the  "  ReV.  John  Me  Arthur."  He  remained  in  his  father's  shop 
Until  the  age  of  twenty-three,  when  he  determined  to  emigrate  to  the 
prairies  of  Illinois.  In  due  time  he  arrived  in  Illinois,  and  was  em 
ployed  as  a  foreman  in  Cobb's  boiler  foundry,  in  Chicago.  In  1852 
he  formed  a  copartnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  Carlyle  Mason, 
as  blacksmiths  and  boiler  makers,  when  he  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  future  brilliant  career.  He  Was  fortunate  in  business,  and  by  his 


GKtf.    &f  ARTHUR.  495 

integrity  and  sagacity,  placed  himself  upon  a  firm  footing.  Prior  to 
the  outbreak  of  the  war  he  took  a  deep  interest  in  our  citizen  sol 
diery,  and  on  the  formation  of  the  Chicago  Highland  Guards,  a 
Scotch  company,  he  was  elected  its  first  lieutenant  and  soon  after 
captain.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  sprang  at  once  into  the  ranks 
and  devoted  himself  heart  and  soul  to  the  service  of  his  adopted 
country.  He  .was  elected  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  Washington  Inde 
pendent  Regiment,  of  which  the  Highland  Guards  formed  a  part, 
and  a  few  weeks  later  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  12th  Illinois  regi 
ment.  When  the  troubles  commenced  in  Kentucky,  he  was  sta 
tioned  with  his  regiment  at  Paducah,  and  from  thence  was  ordered 
to  Fort  Henry.  At  Fort  Donelson  he  was  an  acting  Brigadier,  and 
in  that  terrible  conflict  displayed  such  bravery  and  coolness  as  to 
win  his  commission.  At  Shiloh  he  displayed  the  same  bravery,  and 
was  wounded  by  a  ball  which  passed  through  his  foot,  disabling  him 
for  more  than  a  month,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  again  joined 
his  brigade  in  the  army  of  the  Tennessee,  under  General  Grant. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  almost  constantly  in  the  service,  with 
out  rest  or  cessation,  and  has  gained  for  himself  an  enviable  name 
for  all  the  qualities  which  should  distinguish  the  model  soldier. 


OHAPTEE  XXX. 

CAMPAIGNS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND. 

REORGANIZATION  OF  THE  ARMY  or  THE  CUMBERLAND — SECOND  ATTACK  ON  FORT  DONKL* 
SON — GALLANT  DEFENSE  BY  THE  83o  ILLINOIS,  COL.  HARDING — THE  REBELS  DRIVEN 
OFF — COL.  COLBORN'S  BRIGADE  CAPTURED  AT  SPRING  HILL — DEFEAT  OF  JOHN  MORGAN 
AT  MILTON — THE  123o  AND  SOra  ILLINOIS  IN  THE  FIGHT — SPLENDID  CONDUCT  OF  THE 
BOTH — GRANGER  ATTACKED  BY  VAN  DORN — DEFEAT  OF  THE  REBELS  AT  McMiNNS- 
VILLE — COL.  STREIGHT'S  EXPEDITION— THE  ROLL  OF  HONOR — NAMES  OF  ILLINOIS 
SOLDIERS  DISTINGUISHED  FOR  BRAYERY. 

Ea  preceding  chapter  we  closed  the  operations  of  the  Army  of 
he  Cumberland  with  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  which  took  place 
on  the  last  days  of  1862  and  the  first  of  1863.  On  the  5th  of  January, 
General  Rosecrans  established  his  headquarters  at  Murfreesboro. 
The  army  occupied  a  position  in  front  of  the  town  and  a  series  of 
formidable  earth-works,  completely  surrounding  it,  was  thrown  up 
to  protect  it  as  a  base  of  future  operations.  On  the  9th  of  January 
the  army  was  re-organized  into  three  corps,  called  the  14th,  20th  and 
21st,  and  commanded  respectively  by  Generals  Thomas,  McCook 
and  Crittenden.  The  collection  of  supplies  occupied  considerable 
time,  being  somewhat  retarded  by  the  rain  and  the  operations  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  who  were  overrunning  the  country  and  often  cap 
tured  men  and  wagons.  Many  of  the  transports  on  the  Cumber 
land  River  were  also  captured  and  burned  by  gangs  of  Forrest's  and 
Wheeler's  men. 

On  the  31st  of  January,  General  Jeff.  C.  Davis,  at  the  head  of  a 
division  of  infantry  and  two  brigades  of  cavalry,  moved  from  camp 
on  an  expedition  in  the  direction  of  Rome  and  Franklin,  and  was 
absent  thirteen  days,  visiting  various  places,  and  returned  with  one 
hundred  and  forty-one  prisoners. 


FORT    DONELSON.  497 

On  the  3d  of  February  an  attack  was  made  on  Fort  Donelson,  in 
another  part  of  the  department.  On  the  2d,  the  rebel  General  For 
rest,  at  the  head  of  a  large  force,  had  taken  a  position  at  Palmyra  for 
the  purpose  of  interrupting  the  navigation  of  the  Cumberland,  and 
on  the  next  day  he  advanced  upon  the  fort  both  from  above  and 
below.  The  garrison  consisted  of  nine  companies  of  the  83d  Illi 
nois,  under  Col.  Harding,  a  battalion  of  the  5th  Iowa  cavalry, 
Flood's  battery,  and  some  wounded  men.  The  battery  consisted  of 
four  rifled  guns  and  one  32-pounder  siege  gun  mounted  on  a  pivot 
on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  fort.  Col.  Harding  learning  that  the 
rebels  were  approaching,  telegraphed  to  Col.  Lowe,  at  Paducah,  and 
asked  for  reinforcements.  That  officer  sent  word  back  for  Col.  Har 
ding  to  send  out  scouts  and  ascertain  the  exact  force  of  the  rebels. 
This  was  done.  Col.  Lowe  had  nearly  all  his  available  force  out  on 
scouting  expeditions  and  could  not  send  aid,  but  learning  that  the 
gunboats  were  coming  up  the  river,  he  sent  word  to  them  of  the 
condition  of  affairs  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  telegraphed  Col.  Harding 
to  hold  the  place  at  all  hazards,  until  dark,  when  help  would  come. 
The  Colonel  promised  to  do  as  ordered ;  with  what  success,  the 
sequel  shows.  The  rebels  made  their  appearance  at  2  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  and  attacked  the  fort  from  the  eastward,  thinking  that  the 
weakest  point.  The  rebel  batteries  were  well  placed  and  poured  in 
a  hot  fire,  which  was  followed  up  by  several  unsuccessful  charges 
upon  the  works  by  the  infantry  and  dismounted  cavalry,  with  the 
intention  of  carrying  them  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet.  Ammunition 
within  the  fort  was  scarce,  and  under  Col.  Harding' s  orders  his 
riflemen  fired  slowly  and  deliberately,  so  that  each  shot  was  effective. 
Flood's  battery  had  to  be  used  as  a  siege  battery  or  series  of  batte 
ries,  as  occasion  offered,  and  was  worked  with  most  consummate 
skill.  It  was  the  first  fight  of  the  83d,  but  they  stood  like  veterans, 
and  every  shot  told  with  fatal  effect  upon  the  thick  ranks  of  the 
assailants.  The  fight  continued  for  six  hours  with  small  loss  to  the 
83d.  Col.  Harding  was  everywhere  encouraging  and  sustaining 
his  men.  Wherever  the  fight  was  most  severe  or  the  dangefr  most 
imminent,  there  he  was,  sword  in  hand,  advising,  commanding  and 
urging  on  his  men. 

But  the  rebel  force  was  overpowering,  and  Col.  Harding  knew  he 

32 


4:98  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

could  not  continue  the  fight  much  longer.  Nearly  all  his  ammuni 
tion  was  exhausted  and  his  men  were  worn  out  with  fatigue.  Night 
had  come  and  the  battle  was  still  raging  but  there  were  no  signs  of 
reinforcements.  Thus  far  the  enemy  had  been  unable  to  surround 
the  fort  on  its  three  sides  unprotected  by  the  river,  but  now  an  ex 
ultant  shout  arose.  The  rebels  had  completely  encircled  the  fort, 
and  a  flag  of  truce  was  sent  in  from  General  Wheeler  demanding  the 
surrender  of  the  fort.  Col.  Harding  sent  back  an  indignant  refusal 
and  the  battle  was  renewed  with  double  fury.  The  rebels  charged 
again  and  again  upon  the  works,  but  were  each  time  met  and  re 
pulsed  with  the  deadly  fire  of  our  rifleman  or  their  no  less  deadly 
bayonets.  The  32-pounder  siege  gun  annoyed  the  rebels  with  its 
fearful  fire.  A  second  flag  of  truce  was  sent  in  and  rejected,  and 
the  rebels  then  concentrated  their  efforts  to  capture  the  gun.  A 
charge  was  made,  joined  in  by  several  mounted  men,  upon  the  piece. 
The  gunners  discovering  the  object  of  the  rebels,  had  double-shotted 
it  with  grape  and  canister.  A  large  force  was  moving  swiftly  to  the 
south  side  of  the  gun,  intending  to  flank  it,  get  on  its  rear  and  cut 
off  the  gunners.  The  assailants  advanced  and  were  on  the  point  of 
seizing  it,  when  the  gunners  rapidly  swung  it  round  and  poured  its 
contents  full  into  the  faces  of  the  rebels.  The  havoc  was  dreadful 
and  the  assailing  party  fled  precipitately,  and  the  attempt  to  capture 
the  gun  was  not  renewed. 

Help  was  now  near  at  hand.  The  gunboats  were  heard  coming 
up  the  river,  and  at  8  o'clock  in  the  evening  Capt.  Fitch,  with  his 
fleet  appeared  before  the  astounded  enemy.  After  the  arrival  of  the 
reinforcements,  Col.  Harding  ordered  his  men  to  cease  firing  and 
gather  into  a  protected  position  out  of  the  reach  of  the  shot  and 
shell  from  the  gunboats.  The  naval  force  was  divided,  half  the 
fleet  going  above  and  the  other  below.  The  first  gun  was  fired  from 
the  Fairplay,  which  opened  with  grape  and  shrapnel.  The  Lexing 
ton  followed,  with  her  heavier  metal,  and  the  Brilliant,  Silver  Lake 
and  Robb  followed.  The  St.  Clair  took  an  excellent  position  and 
did  fearful  execution.  At  the  opening  of  the  gunboat  cannonade 
the  rebel  force  was  formed  with  the  mass  of  its  body  below  the  fort, 
the  right  upon  the  graveyard  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  the  left  upon 
the  river  bank  ready  to  make  the  final  attack  upon  the  fort,  which 


THE   EIGHTY-THIRD.  499 

they  imagined  was  to  secure  victory.  The  firing  of  the  gunboats, 
however,  disconcerted  their  plans,  and  soon  after  the  boats  opened 
they  broke  ranks  and  fled  in  confusion.  In  twenty  minutes  after 
the  fleet  opened  fire  there  was  not  an  uninjured  rebel  to  be  seen. 

This,  as  we  have  stated,  was  the  first  fight  of  the  83d,  and  most 
gallantly  they  bore  themselves.  For  half  a  day,  with  a  few  rounds 
of  ammunition,  they  sustained  their  position  against  great  odds  and 
contemptuously  refused  the  rebel  demands  for  surrender.  Few 
regiments  in  the  service  have  made  a  more  gallant  fight.  Their  loss 
was  only  thirteen  killed,  fifty-one  wounded  and  twenty  taken  prison 
ers,  while  the  rebel  loss  was  two  hundred  and  fifty  killed,  six 
hundred  wounded  and  one  hundred  and  five  prisoners. 

After  this  battle  a  period  of  inactivity  ensued,  which  was  broken 
by  the  defeat  and  capture  of  a  Federal  brigade  at  Spring  Hill  on  the 
5th  of  March.  On  the  4th,  an  expedition  under  the  command  of 
Col.  John  Colburn,  consisting  of  part  of  the  33d  and  85th  Indiana, 
22d  Wisconsin  and  19th  Michigan,  numbering  1,589  men,  together 
with  the  124th  Ohio,  six  hundred  cavalry  and  one  battery  of  six 
small  guns,  was  ordered  to  proceed  from  Franklin  to  Spring  Hill. 
After  skirmishing,  they  were  attacked  on  the  morning  of  the 
5th  by  a  large  force  under  Van  Dorn  and  Forrest,  and  a  severe 
struggle  ensued  which  was  protracted  until  Forrest  obtained  a  posi 
tion  in  the  rear,  cutting  off  retreat,  when  Col.  Colburn,  finding  his 
ammunition  failing,  surrendered. 

Meanwhile  General  Sheridan,  with  his  division,  and  Col.  Minty, 
with  a  force  of  800  cavalry,  made  a  successful  expedition.  A  portion 
of -the  force  which  had  captured  Col.  Colburn  was  overtaken  and 
driven  from  the  field,  and  the  force  of  Van  Dorn  was  followed  to 
Duck  River  when  the  expedition  returned  to  Franklin. 

On  the  18th  of  March,  an  expedition  consisting  of  the  105th  Ohio 
101st  Indiana,  80th  Illinois,  Col.  Allen,  123d  Illinois,  Col.  Monroe, 
forty  men  of  Stoke's  Tennessee  Cavalry,  and  two  sections  of  the 
19th  Indiana  battery,  numbering  about  1,400  men,  under  command 
of  Col.  A.  S.  Hall,  left  Murfreesboro  and  moved  in  the  direction  of 
Liberty.  That  night  Gainesville  was  occupied,  and  on  the  next 
morning  an  advance  was  made,  when  a  slight  skirmish  ensued.  The 
enemy  slowly  retired,  followed  by  Col.  Hall,  until  they  were  over*- 


500  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

taken,  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle.  Finding  that  he  was  greatly  out 
numbered,  Col.  Hall  fell  back  towards  Murfreesboro.  That  night 
he  encamped  at  Auburn,  seven  miles  from  Liberty,  and  on  the  next 
morning,  the  20th,  took  up  a  position  at  Milton,  twelve  miles  north 
east  of  Murfreesboro.  Here  he  was  attacked  by  John  Morgan.  The 
rebels  made  their  first  attack  against  the  right  of  the  Union  force, 
which  was  then  slowly  falling  back  to  obtain  a  more  commanding 
position  half  a  mile  to  the  rear.  The  8th  Illinois  held  the  right  par 
tially  covered  by  a  thicket  of  cedars.  Several  rebel  regiments  were 
crowding  up  and  deploying  into  a  lane,  and  had  just  commenced 
tearing  down  fences  preparatory  to  a  charge,  when  the  8th,  who 
were  unobserved  by  the  enemy,  rose  up  and  poured  a  most  terrible 
and  murderous  volley  into  them.  They  dropped  from  their  horses 
by  scores  and  in  complete  rout  they  fled  from  the  lane. 

By  this  time  the  engagement  was  heavy  on  the  left,  the  123d  Illi 
nois  and  the  101st  Ohio  contending  against  an  overwhelming  force 
who  were  dismounted  and  aided  by  a  heavy  battery.  The  two  regi 
ments  held  their  ground  steadily  for  a  time,  but  shortly  the  superior 
force  of  the  rebels  caused  a  gradual  retreat.  The  retreat,  however 
was  of  short  duration,  for  the  80th  Illinois,  relieved  on  the  right, 
came  with  a  cheer,  dashing  into  the  fray.  The  regiments  rallied 
and  charged  and  drove  .the  rebels  from  the  field.  In  the  meanwhile 
the  rebels  had  thrown  a  force  completely  around  the  ground  occu 
pied  by  the  Union  troops,  and  the  105th  Ohio  was  having  heavy 
skirmishing  at  the  rear.  Col.  Hall,  by  his  maneuvers,  had  obtained 
a  commanding  position  and  hurried  preparations  for  defense  were 
made.  The  foe  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce  with  a  demand  for  surren 
der,  which  was  instantly  rejected.  The  rebels  had  been  so  severely 
punished  that  they  did  not  attempt  an  enforcement  of  their  demand, 
and  with  an  occasional  artillery  duel  the  time  passed  until  the  ap 
proach  of  Union  reinforcements.  The  rebels  were  quick  to  discover 
them  and  rapidly  fell  back,  quitting  the  field.  A  wounded  rebel 
summed  up  the  gallant  fight  when  he  said  to  sergeant  Abbott,  of  the 
80th  Illinois :  "  This  is  the  first  time  Morgan  has  been  out  of  his 
hole  for  some  time  and  he  has  got  most  beautifully  whipped." 

A  large  number  of  expeditions  similar  to  the  above  were  con 
stantly  on  the  move.  On  the  10th  of  April  another  attack  was  made 


FEANKLIN.  501 

on  General  Gordan  Granger,  at  Franklin,  by  Van  Dorn.  The  force 
of  General  Granger  consisted  of  Baird's  and  Gilbert's  division, 
1,600  men  and  sixteen  guns,  and  Smith's  cavalry  brigade  of  1,128 
men;  also  a  cavalry  force  of  1,600  men  and  two  guns  under  Colonel 
Stanley.  The  principal  defense  was  an  uncompleted  fort  mounting 
four  guns.  General  Granger's  camp  was  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river  about  two  thirds  of  a  mile  from  the  town.  General  Baird  was 
ordered  to  hold  in  check  any  force  attempting  to  cross  the  ford  be 
low  Franklin,  and  Gen.  Gilbert  was  in  position  to  meet  any  attack 
in  front.  Gen.  Stanley  was  stationed  four  miles  out  on  the  road  to 
Murfreesboro,  and  Smith* s  cavalry  was  held  as  a  reserve  for  Stanley. 
This  force,  however,  under  a  misapprehension  was  sent  to  Brent- 
wood.  The  attack  was  made  upon  Granger's  front  which  was 
repelled,  and  was  then  directed  against  Stanley,  who  was  driven 
back  by  overpowering  numbers  before  help  could  reach  him.  After 
this  the  enemy  withdrew. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  a  force  in  which  were  the  123d,  80th,  98th 
and  24th  Illinois,  consisting  of  Major-General  Reynolds'  division, 
Col.  Wilder' s  brigade  and  seventeen  hundred  cavalry  under  Colonel 
Minty,  left  Murfreesboro  to  capture  or  disperse  a  confederate  force 
at  McMinnsville.  At  night  the  cavalry  encamped  between  Ready- 
ville  and  Woodbury.  Early  the  next  morning  the  force  moved  on, 
and  encountered  the  enemy's  pickets.  A  charge  was  immediately 
made  and  the  whole  force  was  driven  through,  and  out  of  the  town. 
A  portion  of  their  wagon  train  was  also  captured.  Other  movements 
were  made  by  the  force  which  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  a  large 
amount  of  property  and  stores  belonging  to  the  rebels. 

Simultaneously  with  this  movement,  the  road  leading  to  Shelby- 
ville  was  advanced  upon  by  brigades  of  the  20th  corps.  The  1st 
brigade  of  the  2d  division,  in  which  was  the  89th  Illinois,  took  the 
pike  going  out  about  eight  miles,  when  the  rebel  pickets  were  en 
countered.  The  road  towards  Shelbyville,  was  occupied  by  Colonel 
Frank  Sherman's  brigade  of  the  3d  division,  but  no  fighting  occurred. 
On  the  29th  of  April,  a  force  of  five  hundred  men  under  Colonel 
Watkins,  captured  a  camp  of  the  enemy,  taking  one  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  prisoners. 

About  the  same  time,  the  unfortunate  expedition  under  Colonel 


502  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

A.  D.  Straight,  was  fitted  out  for  Northern  Georgia.  The  force 
numbered  about  eighteen  hundred  men,  consisting  of  the  51st  Indi 
ana,  80th  Illinois  and  portions  of  two  Ohio  regiments.  Colonel 
Streight' s  instructions  from  General  Garfield  were  substantially  that 
after  equipping  his  expedition,  he  should  proceed  to  some  good  steam 
boat  landing  on  the  Tennessee  River  not  far  above  Fort  Henry, 
where  he  was  to  embark  his  command  and  proceed  up  the  river.  At 
Hamburg  he  was  to  communicate  with  General  Dodge.  If  it  should 
then  appear  unsafe  to  move  farther  up  the  river,  he  was  to  debark  at 
Hamburg  and  join  Gen.  Dodge's  forces  in  the  movement  for  Ink  a, 
Miss.  If  safe,  he  was  to  land  at  Eastport  and  form  a  junction  with 
General  Dodge,  and  after  having  marched  long  enough  with  him, 
to  create  the  impression  he  was  a  part  of  the  expedition,  he  was  sud 
denly  to  push  southward  and  reach  Russellville  or  Moulton.  From 
that  point  circumstances  were  to  determine  the  direction  in  which 
he  should  more,  but  in  any  event  he  was  to  push  on  to  Western 
Georgia  and  eut  all  the  railroads  which  supplied  the  rebel  army  by 
way  of  Chattanooga. 

Under  these  instructions  Colonel  Streight  proceeded  to  Fort  Don- 
elson  and  thence  marched  across  the  country  to  the  Tennessee  River. 
Thence  he  moved  to  Eastport  and  joined  Gen.  Dodge's  forces,  then 
inarching  upon  Tuscumbia  and  defeated  the  rebel  troops  stationed 
there  with  considerable  loss  to  them.  Thence  he  moved  to  Northern 
Georgia,  aiming  to  reach  Rome  and  Atlanta.  IsTo  sooner  had  he 
commenced  his  movements,  however,  than  the  rebel  Generals  For 
rest  and  Roddy  were  aware  of  them.  By  a  rapid  movement  they 
came  upon  his  rear  and  commenced  a  running  fight  which  continued 
for  four  days,  during  which  there  were  two  severe  battles  and  sev 
eral  skirmishes,  in  which  the  80th  Illinois  conducted  itself  with  great 
coolness  and  bravery,  making  some  dashing  charges.  The  troops 
had  marched  one  hundred  miles  towards  the  heart  of  the  State  and 
had  destroyed  bridges,  railroads  and  foundries  and  large  amounts  of 
provisions  and  war  material.  The  rebel  force  gradually  increased 
to  overwhelming  numbers,  and  Col.  Streight,  his  ammunition  ex 
pended  and  his  men  exhausted,  was  compelled  to  surrender  at  a 
point  fifteen  miles  from  Rome,  Georgia.  His  men  were  sent  to  Vir 
ginia  and  exchanged  two  months  afterwards.  But  the  officers  were 


COL.  STKEIGHT ROLL    OF    HONOR.  503 

retained  and  imprisoned  by  the  Governor  of  Georgia  upon  a  fabri 
cated  plea  of  having  violated  the  State  laws  by  inciting  slaves  to  in 
surrection.  The  imprisonment  of  Col.  Streight,  led  to  the  stoppage 
of  exchange,  and  the  subsequent  imprisonment  of  Gen.  Morgan. 
Col.  Streight  was  then  released  from  imprisonment  as  a  convict,  and 
Morgan  subsequently  escaped. 

Before  coming  to  the  grand  movements  of  the  main  army  which 
led  to  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  and  the  end  of  General  Rosecrans7 
career  as  commander  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  it  is  due  to 
the  brave  soldiers  from  Illinois  regiments  who  were  awarded  a  place 
in  the  Roll  of  Honor  that  their  names  be  preserved.  The  Roll  was 
established  by  Gen.  Rosecrans  for  the  purpose  of  indicating  both  to 
the  army  and  to  the  nation,  those  officers  and  soldiers  who  distin 
guished  themselves  by  bravery  and  soldierly  conduct.  The  follow 
ing  is  the  list  as  complete  as  we  have  been  able  to  obtain  it : 

FIRST  BRIGADE— FIRST  DIVISION. 

CAPTAINS.— Hendrick  E.  Paine,  Co.  B,  59tli;  David  0.  Battolph,  B,  79th;  Robert 
Hale,  D,  76th. 

LIEUTENANTS. — David  W.  Henderson,  Co.  0,  59th;  J.  W.  Leffingwell,  A,  74th;  Jas. 
A.  Blodgett,  E,  75th. 

FIFTY-NINTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS. — James  Goodwin,  Co.  A ;  Robert  S.  Sands,  B ;  Geo.  R.  Stier,  C ;  Benja 
min  F.  Stevens,  D  ;  George  Kirber,  E  ;  William  Hill,  F ;  Aaron  S.  Davis,  G ;  John 
Goodman,  H ;  Wm.  Tierman,  I ;  Daniel  Slayton,  K. 

CORPORALS.— Wm.  B.  Camp,  Co.  A ;  Francis  M.  Caldwell,  B ;  Wm.  Wilson,  C  ;  Jas. 
H.  Williams,  D  ;  Chesley  Allen,  E  ;  Jacob  Flint,  F ;  John  Simpson,  G  ;  Frederick 
Goring,  H ;  James  A.  Mitchell,  I ;  Addis  Downing,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — Geo.  H.  Castle,  John  Glendon,  Joel  B.  Holcomb,  James  H. 
Patton,  Daniel  Watkins.  Co.  B— Lewis  C.  Dougherty,  Michael  Kelly,  Wm.  H.  San- 
key,  Samuel  Short,  James  C.  Still.  Co.  C— George  W.  Bell,  Daniel  Nutley,  Crist 
Brinda,  John  Cheeley,  Geo.  W.  Kerr.  Co.  D — Joseph  Bateman,  Nathaniel  Daggett, 
Charles  B.  Hennason,  Charles  Shanerstead,  Alfred  Simerli.  Co.  E — Wm.  Bruck, 
Joseph  A.  Cox,  Adam  Kober,  Aaron  Faty,  James  P.  Woods.  Co.  F — Virgil  Devore, 
Alfred  Frathoringill,  Jeremiah  Hagee,  John  A.  G.  Kelley,  Joseph  D.  Rader.  Co.  G — 
James  Gather,  Isaac  Emly,  Wm.  Keirn,  Abram  A.  Pruit,  James  Reed.  Co.  H — John 
Carroll,  Eugene  Gardner,  John  W.  Turen,  Jas.  E.  Reynolds,  Benjamin  St.  Clair.  Co 
I — Charles  0.  Ingham,  John  L.  Lock,  Thomas  McCann,  Joseph  O'Neil,  Horatio  Foss. 
Co.  K— Wm.  A.  Paul,  Emanuel  Herbert,  Jacob  Neighbour,  Frank  W.  Van  Osdel, 
Walter  C.  Wvker. 


504:  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

SEVENTY-FOURTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS.— Wm.  Leffingwell,  Co.  A ;  Edgar  Swift,  B  ;  Alexander  H.  Battle,  C  ; 
John  Betson,  D ;  Chas.  A.  Allen,  E ;  Edward  L.  Simpson,  F ;  Wm.  R.  Douglass,  G ; 
Chester  Weston,  H ;  Geo.  Van  Valkenberg,  I ;  James  Parland,  K. 

CORPORALS. — Amasa  Hatching,  Co.  A ;  Hiram  Billich,  B  ;  Cyrus  Miller,  C  ;  James 
Crane,  D  ;  Hiram  A.  Miles,  E  ;  John  Hartwell,  F  ;  John  G.  Waldie,  G  ;  Samuel  A. 
Carpenter,  H ;  Jacob  Wagner,  I ;  Arthur  P.  Brown,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — John  Rumelhart,  John  Rodgers,  Edward  Black,  Gustavus 
Hastings,  Gilbert  E.  King.  Co.  B — Daniel  M'Gune,  John  Graham,  Daniel  G.  Kipp, 
George  D.  Manuel,  Peter  Merehart.  Co.  C — John  Woolrey,  Henry  Miller,  John  W. 
Stewart,  Harvey  W.  Kellogg,  Wm.  T.  Robertson.  Co.  D— Wra.  E.  Welch,  Carver 
C.  Welch,  Wm.  Gutt,  George  Smith,  Frederick  Welch.  Co  E— Julius  Smith,  Wm. 
Weaver,  Benjamin  Kingsbury,  Reuben  Banks,  Edward  Prescott.  Co.  F — Charles 
Anderson,  Charles  C.  Errickson,  Henry  J.  Strong,  Orlando  Woodruff,  Levi  S.  San 
ders.  Co.  G — James  King,  James  Francis,  Russell  J.  Brayton,  Levi  Butterfield, 
Charles  W.  Wood.  Co.  H — John  A.  Campbell,  George  E.  Allen,  Albert  Goodwin, 
Herrian  Campbell,  Edwin  M.  Sherman.  Co.  I — John  Lewards,  Joseph  Flynn,  Robert 
Burrill,  James  Elliott,  Wm.  Bakhaff.  Co.  K— Thomas  Walsh,  Henry  Tanner,  Burl 
J.  Blake,  Wesley  Anderson,  Charles  Gorham. 

SEVENTY-FIFTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS. — Wm.  Coggswell,  Co.  A ;  Chauncey  B.  Hubbard,  B ;  Stephen  W. 
Smith,  C  ;  George  Newton,  Jr.,  D ;  Negnella  S.  Christopher,  E  ;  James  D.  Place,  F ; 
Wm.  Vance,  G  ;  Samuel  M.  Tracy,  H;  Augustus  Johnson,  I;  Jonathan  Hyde,  K. 

CORPORALS. — Lewis  Burkett,  Co.  A  ;  Asaph  C.  Demming,  B  ;  Oscar  A.  Seeley,  C  ; 
Burney  McGrady,  D  ;  Sylvester  S.  Nash,  E  ;  Charles  Gregory,  F ;  James  Dysert,.  G  ; 
Frederick  Mitchell,  H ;  Jacob  Rhodehamer,  I ;  Joshua  C.  Mills,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — Cornelius  Vroom,  John  Beal,  Cyrus  Inrucker,  Charles  Croep- 
sey,  Joseph  Boyer.  Co.  B — Reuben  Feree,  Samuel  H.  Eye,  David  Hillier,  Charles 
Fellows,  Welton  D.  Strunk.  Co.  C— Salem  H.  Town,  Wheeler  Pratt,  Byron  Wei- 
don,  Win.  Tompkins,  George  Fairbank.  Co,  D — Joseph  W.  McDonald,  Gustavus 
Sherman,  Theodore  Cramphim,  Patrick  Daily,  Henry  Potts.  Co.  F — Thaddeus  Spaf- 
ford,  Andrew  J.  Taylor,  Norman  Jewett,  Chas.  D.  C.  Hubbard,  Thomas  Dubay.  Co. 
G — Wallace  Eastwood,  Daniel  Spafford,  Samuel  Bender,  Theophilus  Gibson,  Addi- 
son  Heekart.  Co.  II — John  Hanprich,  Christian  Coast,  Matthias  Schmidt,  Paul 
Hoffman,  John  G.  Seedy.  Co.  I — John  Freek,  Cornelius  Gerhart,  David  Molton, 
David  Byron,  Robert  M'Kinzie.  Co.  K — John  Dilts,  Orlando  Jones,  Oscar  M.  Town, 
Frederick  Dormoy,  James  E.  Taylor. 

NINETEENTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

William  Inness,  Captain,  Co.  C. 

V.  Bradford  Bell,  2d  Lieutenant,  Co.  K. 

SERGEANTS. — John  Freeland,  Co.  A  ;    De  Forrest  Chamberlain,  B  ;    Edmund  M. 


BOLL    OF    IIONOK.  505 

Sawyer,  C;  Oliver  E.  Eames,  D;  George  Steel,  E  ;  Stephen  M.  Porter,  F ;  John 
Dedrich,  II ;  Harrison  Cowden,  I ;  John  Stevens,  K. 

CORPORALS. — James  Uttman,  Co.  A  ;  Henry  B.  Worth,  B  ;  Hiram  D.  Kellogg,  C  ; 
Wm.  B.  Taylor,  D  ;  Alexander  McL.  Frazer,  E  ;  William  Beck,  F  ;  Sumner  Herring- 
ton,  H;  Augustus  Speck,  I;  John  M'Carthy,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — George  W.  Fitch,  George  Berry,  Wm.  Wilson,  Robert  R.  Samp 
son,  John  S.  S.  Smith.  Co.  B — Wm.  Douglass,  David  Jackson,  Wm.  Jorday,  James 
G.  Turabull,  James  Cinnamon.  Co.  C — Robert  Frome,  Joseph  D.  Dobell,  Frank 
Pratt,  Frank  Applebeo,  Lyman  A.  Fowler.  Co.  D — Richard  Lewis,  Thos.  Mahoney, 
George  Thompson,  Thomas  Golden,  Joseph  Smith.  Co.  E — Edward  Cunningham, 
Thos.  Lawlerj  David  M'Arthur,  Andrew  Innes,  Robert  F.  Fletcher.  Co.  F — Jacquess 
Kunimel,  Thomas  A.  Hamilton,  Wm.  Walsh,  John  Russell,  David  H.  Briddlecome. 
Co.  II — John  Mercer,  John  M'Kee,  David  W.  Thompson,  Henry  C.  Mazham,  Hiram 
Rhodes.  Co.  I— Thomas  Craig,  Richard  C.  Walker,  Wm.  C.  Smith,  John  Morrisey, 
Conrad  Schlosser.  Co.  K — Abram  N.  Randolph,  Joseph  Cobb,  Lyman  Clark,  John 
M.  Hoyt,  Charles  A.  Kent. 

SECOND  BRIGADE— SECOND  DIVISION. 

FIELD  OFFICERS. — James  E.  Galloway,  Major  21st  Illinois. 

Henry  H.  Allen,  Major  38th  Illinois. 

CAPTAINS. — Andrew  George,  21st-;   Thomas  Cole,  38th;  Lyman  Parcher,  101st. 

THIRTY-EIGHTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS. — Henry  Davis,  Co.  A ;  David  Blair,  B  ;  Samuel  Campbell,  C ;  John 
A.  Moore,  D  ;  Thomas  Fleener,  E  ;  Richard  W.  Adams,  F ;  Alexander  Mclntyre,  G ; 
William  H.  De  Bond,  H;  James  Pettigrew,  I;  Jonah  F.  DeBolt,  K. 

CORPORALS. — Solomon  Morris,  Co.  A ;  Burton  Kile,  B ;  Peter  Lynch,  C ;  G.  B. 
Lorance,  D ;  William  Morgan,  E ;  Joseph  Sollars,  F ;  Ezra  Graves,  G ;  James  W. 
Sneedham,  H ;  Lee  Woods,  I ;  James  D.  Devine,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — Daniel  Ryan,  William  Welsh,  Calvin  C.  Poppenberger,  James 
Morton,  Barnet  Peddicoard.  Co.  B — Aaron  Landreth,  Hugh  M.  Hill,  John  M.  Hol- 
lis,  John  Kite,  Powell  Snelling.  Co.  C — John  Comfort,  Alonzo  P.  Coon,  Finaldo 
Logan,  Patrick  Gallaher,  James  Delenty.  Co.  D — Francis  W.  Van  Winkle,  Marion 
Dean,  Jesse  Plunkett,  Lot  Wakst,  Robert  Watts.  Co.  E — Robert  Bromfield,  Nicho 
las  Coy,  James  G.  Hall,  William  H.  Bewee,  James  G.  Morris.  Co.  F — Wesley  F. 
Skelley,  Andrew  A.  Wright,  A.  J.  Wright,  Leonard  Waggoner,  John  F.  Bentzley. 
Co.  G — John  Ho  well,  James  Boggs,  Squire  W.  Peddigo,  Wm.  F.  Hartley,  Joseph  W. 
Rowe.  Co.  H — John  S.  Richart,  Harrison  Kibben,  John  F.  Asher,  James  W.  Trav 
is,  B.  H.  Pendleton.  Co.  I— Dudley  McKibben,  Joseph  Snodle,  Geo.  W.  Michalls, 
Peter  D.  McKibben,  Henry  McKibben.  Co.  K — William  Sutton,  John  Chestnut, 
John  Allison,  Martin  Christian,  Kennet  Newton. 


506  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

THIRD  BRIGADE— FIRST  DIVISION. 

FIELD  OFFICERS — John  Mcllwaine,  Major  35th  Illinois. 

CAPTAINS.— Joseph  Truax,  Co.  I,  35th ;  Wesley  Taggart,  Co.  E,  35th. 

LIEUTENANTS. — U.  J.  Fox,  35th ;  William  L.  Warning,  35th ;  T.  H.  West,  25th. 

THIRTY-FIFTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS. — John  Hargan,  Co.  A ;  Silas  Perry,  B ;  Lewis  G.  Torrence,  C  ;  Jack 
son  I.  Lister,  D ;  Francis  M.  Allhands,  E ;  Alexander  Hughes,  F ;  Doughty  Right- 
mire,  G ;  John  Burgoyne,  I ;  Benjamin  F.  Markland,  K. 

CORPORALS. — Albert  Gibbs,  Co.  A  ;  Anthony  Cullahan,  B  ;  Benjamin  W.  Jones, 
C ;  Daniel  C.  Deamunde,  D ;  John  A.  Brothers,  E  ;  Alvin  H.  Miller,  F ;  George 
Ralston,  G ;  William  P.  Harrison,  H ;  Charles  Caraway,  I ;  William  II.  Sapp,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — N.  B.  Truax,  James  Gibson,  William  Ruskman,  John  A.  Reed? 
Andrew  J.  Stewart.  Co.  B — Adam  Young,  John  E.  Sawrey,  Curtis  Merriman, 
James  M.  Minor,  William  Lees.  Co.  C — Zeb  Smith,  A,  G.  Barrett,  Joseph  McKee, 
Charles  Hooper,  Elbridge  A.  Oliver.  Co.  D — John  J.  Fox,  Thomas  Arthur,  Jere 
miah  Bull,  William  Carter,  John  W.  Whetzel.  Co.  E — George  Sprowles,  Horace 
H.  Redford,  John  Gioh,  Lewis  Dotz,  William  H.  Hennis.  Co.  F — Enoch  Mahony, 
John  Craig,  Samuel  N.  Parker,  Reason  Howard,  Charles  Miller.  Co.  G — James  M. 
Kennedy,  John  T.  Dotson,  Nathaniel  Gilbreth,  Orange  R.  Drake,  Simon  Neff.  Co. 
H — Jesse  Morris,  Madison  Tickers,  Joel  W.  Alvord,  Jordan  R.  Murray,  Justus  R. 
Farmer.  Co.  I— Charles  Hillman,  John  T.  McBride,  David  Kinsey,  Richard  Todd. 
Co.  K — George  Bursard,  Thomas  C.  Perry,  William  Waller,  Jesse  Gorden,  William 
H.  Murray. 

TWENTY-FIFTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS. — Aaron  Newlan,  Co.  A ;  J.  K.  Wier,  B  ;  Abraham  Hayes,  C  ;  J.  K 
Jenkin,  D;  H.  Cooper,  E;  John  Jordan,  F;  J.  Beard,  G;  R.  S.  Robinson,  H;  Wm. 
Rothwell,  I ;  Henry  Bude,  K. 

CORPORALS. — John  Beecham,  Co.  A ;  D.  D.  Dale,  B ;  J.  B.  Patton,  C  ;  J.  B.  Shirk, 
D ;  William  Beaver,  E ;  Giles  Dunn,  F ;  L.  D.  McHenry,  G ;  David  Jacobs,  H ;  C. 
E.  Wilson,  I;  B.  Walls,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — R.  W.  Tweedy,  Jacob  Thompson,  George  Wilmarth,  Robert 
Joyce,  Alexander  Baker.  Co.  B — H.  Vandership,  John  Ingraham,  David  Claypool, 
John  Schultz,  H.  Fairchilds.  Co.  C — George  W.  Doyle,  William  Eaton,  David 
Hulick,  James  Jeffreys,  John  Bugle.  Co.  D — William  J.  Drumkiller,  William  Ap- 
erson,  William  Bradford,  Edmund  Betts,  W.  S.  Brown.  Co.  E — Charles  Quich, 
Daniel  McMahon,  Samuel  Van,  Andrew  J.  West,  W.  H.  Holbrook.  Co.  F — William 
Bratton,  Benjamin  F.  Edwards,  James  Johnson,  John  Little,  William  H.  Zumwatz. 
Co.  G— Edward  Dibble,  Robert  Walsh,  Edward  Wilkes,  William  Rogers,  Cyrus  L. 
Wood.  Co.  H — James  H.  Isham,  George  Anderson,  John  R.  Biggs,  William  F. 
Sowers,  Henry  Strenge.  Co.  I — Edward  Phiskey,  Philip  Smith,  John  Burham, 
Moses  White,  Nehemiah  Gerald.  Co.  K— Pressley  W.  Glasscock,  Thomas  Powell, 
John  Hessing,  Nicholas  Covey,  H.  Brackendorf. 


BOLL    OF   HONOR.  507 

FIRST  BRIGADE— THIRD  DIVISION. 

FIELD  OFFICERS. — George  W.  Chandler,  Major  88th  Illinois. 

CAPTAINS.— Webster  A.  Whiting,  Co.  B,  88th  ;  Albert  M.  Hobbs,  E,  36th. 

LIEUTENANTS. — Dean  R.  Chester,  Co.  G,  88th ;    John  M.  Turnbull,  C,  36th. 

EIGHTY-EIGHTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS. — Henry  L.  Sumner,  Co.  A ;  Wm.  McGregor,  B  ;  Chas.  Wiuchell,  C ; 
Noah  W.  Rue,  D';  William  Huntington,  E  ;  John  Lester,  F ;  David  G.  White,  G  ; 
E.  S.  Rice,  H ;  Marwin  M.  Chapin,  I ;  James  Winship,  K. 

CORPORALS. — Henry  Nicholson,  A ;  Robert  Crawford,  B  ;  Austin  Stebbins,  C  ; 
Thomas  Campbell,  D  ;  Ed.  Cunningham,  E ;  Stephen  Shipman,  F ;  Augustus  Young, 
G ;  John  K.  Ely,  H ;  John  Segno,  I ;  Solomon  Davidson,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — David  R.  Graves,  John  B.  King,  Frank  Miller,  James  Maxwell, 
Henry  C.  Gallup.  Co.  B — Benjamin  Stofer,  Wesley  Richard,  Samuel  Wilcox,  Chas. 
Howard.  Co.  C — John  A.  Riley,  Simpson  Studeven,  Thomas  Cuddigan,  Jacob 
Wright,  Edward  Cox.  Co.  D — John  Densmore,  Conrad  Geis,  James  Nelson,  Wm. 
J.  Russell,  George  A.  Booker.  Co.  E — Edward  James,  Robert  Stofield,  Thomas  C. 
Meil,  Martin  Kun,  Brice  Worley.  Co.  F — Joseph  Jackson,  Mark  Esgar,  Alexander 
Cassinghan,  Henry  Whitehouse,  Roswell  Miller.  Co.  G — Benjamin  Newman,  John 
Frube,  John  M.  Greely,  George  Codd,  George  Hast.  Co.  H — Samuel  Robertson, 
Saleful  Eastman,  Cornelius  Clark,  Samuel  Bittles,  Isaac  Wentz.  Co.  I — Stephen 
Fields,  Eli  Hulbertsma,  Christopher  Saver,  Jacob  Kregar.  Co.  K — Thomas  Leary, 
Martin  Dock,  Phillip  Flood,  Hiram  Corbin,  James  Weller. 

THIRTY-SIXTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS. — Alexander  Robertson,  Co.  A  ;  Henry  B.  Latham,  B ;  James  J.  Wil 
son,  C  ;  Clinton  Loyd,  D  ;  Wm.  Willet,  E  ;  Wm.  Cybond,  F;  Wm.  Roily,  G;  Nelson 
Sherwood,  H ;  Dwight  L.  Smith,  I ;  John  M.  Gordon,  K. 

CORPORALS. — George  Peeler,  A ;  George  Berger,  B  ;  George  Mercer,  C  ;  John  C. 
Taylor,  D  ;  Daniel  Darnell,  E  ;  John  F.  Johnson,  F ;  Daniel  Kennedy,  G  ;  David 
Hartman,  H ;  George  Avery,  I ;  John  Johnston,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — Leman  Bartholomew,  Michael  S.  SaislofF,  John  O'Connel,  Homer 
Wilcox,  George  H.  Knowles.  Co.  B — Fritz  Warhesian,  Robert  Logan,  Wm.  Jack 
son,  Charles  Hernse,  Wm.  L.  Campbell.  Co.  C — John  McMullen,  Wm.  Fisher,  Isaac 
Carson,  George  Monroe,  Wm.  Allen.  Co.  D — Seth  Darling,  Louis  P.  Boyd,  Lyden 
Benister,  Philip  Stage,  John  Page.  Co.  E — Henry  Smith,  Walter  Ralston,  Elisha 
Loyd,  James  E.  Moss,  Herbert  Dewey.  Co.  F — Gunner  Gunnerson,  Thomas  Bowen, 
Ira  Johnson,  Louis  Beldin,  John  Roots.  Co.  G — Isaac  Carson,  Charles  Landon,  Syl 
vester  Meecham,  Wm.  Roseman,  Wm.  Severns.  Co.  H — James  Perkins,  Ebenezer 
Lamb,  Cornelius  Van  Hess,  Wm.  Carl,  Frederich  Smith.  Co.  I— Dwight  Corom, 
Samuel  Hall,  Christ  Wehtz,  Antonie  Miller.  Co.  K — Sidney  Wanger,  Wm.  S.  Moore, 
Edward  Mayberry,  Remain  Smith,  Burton  Hovey. 


508  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

SECOND  BRIGADE— THIRD  DIVISION". 

FIELD  OFFICERS. — Win.  A.  Presson,  Lieutenant  Colonel  73d  III. 
CAPTAINS.— Gustavus  Freysleben,  44th  111,    Wm.  E.  Smith,  73d  111. 
LIEUTENANTS. — Win.  H.  Dodge,  73d  111. 

FORTY-FOURTH  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS. — Charles  Wagner,  A;  Martin  Dcnin,  B  ;  Wm  H.  Rankin,  C  ;  Hen'y 
W.  Hawes,  D  ;  Edward  Blind,  E  ;  N.  Rundall,  G  ;  Wm.  F.  Sickling,  H  ;  C.  A.  Bar 
rett,  I ;  Philip  Weber,  K. 

CORPORALS. — John  Kessler,  A ;  F.  P.  Peckliam,  B  ;  Milan  Barrackman,  C  ;  Myron 
Whitehorn,  D  ;  Alfred  Siemhaus,  E;  James  D.  Campbell,  F;  N.  P.  Ramsdell,  G; 
A.  Schoomaker,  H;  Edward  R.  Bliss,  I;  Charles  Egan,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — Fr.  Birkenbuel,  Jacob  Melster,  George  Vogel,  Frederick  Bar- 
tels,  Henry  Zimmer.  Co.  B — Wm.  Haymaker,  A.  H.  Limberger,  Wm.  G.  Nickols, 
Daniel  E.  Harton,  John  Weiser.  Co.  C — Richard  Costello,  John  Williams,  James 
Grahams,  Wm  H.  Mills,  John  Digging.  Co.  D— Joseph  C.  Sidles,  Warren  Thomas, 
Myron  Ketchum,  Rodney  R.  Purvis,  John  N.  Russ.  Co.  E — Christian  Ileillman, 
Daniel  Groner,  Charles  Halben,  Joseph  Pfeffer,  Balthazar  Gisibel.  Co.  F — F.  M. 
Faulkner,  Wm.  Brisbon,  Stephen  Place,  Albert  L.  Russell,  Chas  W.  Haynes.  Co. 
G — Samuel  Vinton,  Michael  Fuhner,  Nathan  Rundle,  Nathaniel  Ramsdell,  Isaiah 
Ferguson.  Co.  II — Thos.  N.  Travis,  Sidney  J.  Fletcher,  Abraham  Loving,  Arthur 
Hamilton,  Theodore  Bushman.  Co.  I — John  Tiptow,  James  C.  Stark,  James  Rigsby, 
Thomas  Fisher,  Samuel  M.  Copp,  Co.  K — Carl  Frank,  George  Essig,  Paul  Wilkcr, 
Florin  Zugg,  Louis  Deusel. 

SEVENTY-THIRD  ILLINOIS  VOLUNTEERS. 

SERGEANTS.— T.  C.  Perry,  Co.  A  ;  D.  W.  Dillow,  B ;  W.  H.  Newlin,  C  ;  H.  Alroid, 
D;  F.  Hendricks,  E;  John  Spindler,  F;  Wm.  Talbert,  G;  Wm.  Cammire,  H;  Wm. 
H.  Gamble,  I ;  D.  M.  Davis,  K. 

CORPORALS.— H.  M  Cass,  A;  A.  J.  Reed,  B;  A.  C.  Nickolson,  C;  Allen  Willey, 
D  ;  John  Justice,  E  ;  Robert  McBride,  F ;  S.  P.  Goodwin,  G  ;  Isaac  Lightle,  H  ; 
"Wm.  H.  Denning,  I ;  E.  F.  Brown,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — Richard  Becker,  Joseph  Baughman,  Jeremiah  C.  Hayne,  Pic- 
card  Oliver.  Co.  B — Joel  Langley,  Cyrus  M.  Grave,  Peter  B.  Few,  Gilbert  Harbi 
son,  Joseph  A.  Hunt.  Co  C — Wesley  Bishop,  John  R.  Burk,  Chas.  M.  Cook,  Robert 
J.  Halsey,  Aaron  Willison.  Co.  D— Elias  M.  Miller,  John  Weddles,  L.  M.  McArdle, 
John  M.  Albert,  Jonas  B.  Garver.  Co.  E— B.  Kirkley,  Charles  Harbey,  Wm.  H, 
Burk,  D.  Elliott,  S.  W.  Busby.  Co.  F— Wm.  Vannuter,  Henry  McBride,  Wm.  Boycr, 
George  Dudley,  Joshua  A.  Wright.  Co.  G — Wm.  H.  Little,  J.  C,  Baily,  James  W. 
Davis,  Wm.  Purnell.  Co.  H — Alphenos  Winegar,  Archibald  Goodwin,  David  Turni- 
cliff,  George  Swackhammer,  James  Gruns,  Edward  Penstow.  Co.  I — Benj.  Schaff- 
ner,  Hiram  Hauptmann,  James  B.  Hurds,  James  Oliver  Weis,  Calvin  A.  Heumann. 
Co.  K — James  Murrey,  Henry  Nosley,  Elijah  Stacy,  George  Kalb. 


ROLL   OF    HONOK,  509 

THIRD  BRIGADE— THIRD  DIVISION. 

FIELD  OFFICERS. — F.  A.  Swanwick,  Lieutenant  Colonel  22d  Illinois ;  John  A.  Hot- 
tensteiu,  Lieutenant  Col.  42d. 

CAPTAINS.— L.  G.  McAdams,  Co.  E,  22d  111.;  Kobert  P.  Lytle,  B,  27th;  E.  D. 
Swain,  I,  42d;  Chas.  C.  Merrick,  G,  51st. 

LIEUTENANTS.— S.  B.  Hood,  Co.  I,  22d  111.;  Hugh  M.  Love,  G,  27th  ;  A.  0.  John 
son,  G,  42d ;  Albert  Eads,  C,  51st. 

TWENTY-SECOND  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

SERGEANTS.— Wm.  M.  Austin,  Co.  A ;  W.  H.  Edsall,  B  ;  John  W.  Young,  C  ;  Wm. 
Scott,  D  ;  Wm.  Kershem,  E  ;  C.  Hunnewell,  F ;  John  G.  Beashy,  G  ;  Wm.  C.  M. 
Kerr,  H;  Wm.  A.  M.  Clinton,  I;  C.  Kern,  K. 

CORPORALS.— Samuel  Smith,  Co.  A ;  John  W.  Jones,  B  ;  A.  J.  Hoffman,  C  ;  J.  W. 
Tabor,  D  ;  James  Collier,  E  ;  P.  Romeiser,  F ;  James  W.  Butt,  G  ;  James  B.  Couch, 
H ;  Wm.  Gray,  I ;  R.  Casey,  K. 

PRIVATES.— Co.  A— F.  Dumbeck,  John  Garber,  Wm.  Carter,  A.  H.  Sharp,  Wm. 
Hess.  Co.  B — Chas.  Jinks,  F.  Sackett,  W.  Asple,  John  Moore,  H.  Carpenter.  Co. 
C — L.  Cornwell,  J.  K.  Gaston,  G.  W.  Davis,  John  Puks,  G.  Armstrong.  Co.  D — W. 
Y.  Rhea,  C.  Rhea,  W.  H.  White,  S.  Trammell,  W.  H.  Scott.  Co.  E— J.  Redick,  J 
Keountz,  B.  Cole,  M.  Croslie,  M.  Wood.  Co.  F— H.  Wismarth,  P.  Hensohn,  G.  Hock- 
neal,  C.  Bick,  C.  Soheiber.  Co.  G— J.  Hensly,  Wm.  Phillips,  J.  McRainey,  Wm. 
Boyer,  D.  Quinn.  Co.  H— B.  McGuire,  M.  W.  Gaston,  J.  W.  Colwell,  H.  P.  Carch, 
P.  Bartliss.  Co.  I— A.  W.  West,  James  Kaley,  J.  P.  Brown,  Colin  Hodge,  B.  F.  Gil- 
lorn.  Co.  K — George  Farwell,  C.  0.  Dunnell,  B.  McAvoy,  J.  Steintauer,  Fred. 
Fe  aster. 

TWENTY-SEVENTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

SERGEANTS.— Adam  Fick,  Co.  A;  Wm.  F.  Hudelson,  B;  Henry  C.  Foot,  C;  G.  W. 
Broden,  D ;  Henry  Denver,  E ;  John  Richardson,  F ;  Ira  Burligim,  G ;  Wm.  Hayes, 
H;  W.  Blanchard,  I;  Isaac  Nash,  K. 

CORPORALS. — Frank  Consteina,  Co.  A;  Wm.  B.  Hodges,  B;  John  Keeley,  C;  A. 
Fisrheo,  D;  John  C.  Conover,  E;  John  Hindman,  F;  W.  B.  Fleming,  G;  John  H. 
Vaught,  H ;  Geo.  E  Tinker,  I ;  Hansil  Burdit,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A— Henry  Frohn,  Henry  Boschults,  R.  C.  F.  Aly,  August  Bos- 
chults,  Henry  Schwartz.  Co.  B — Chas.  Walker,  Lewis  Keefner,  Andrew  Pullin, 
Wm.  Garrison,  Wm.  Aldrich.  Co.  C — James  Rose,  Thomas  H.  Coomer,  John  Wood* 
J.  C.  Parkhurst,  John  Y.  Winder,  Co.  D— Wm.  Husk,  Henry  Mclntyre,  Wm.  D. 
Bell,  Jas.  W.  Page,  Frank  Mott.  Co.  E — Shipley  W.  Lester,  John  F.  Cue,  Samuel 
G.  Smith,  W.  H.  Griffin,  J.  K.  Wilson.  Co.  F— E.  Harbetson,  Thos.  Campbell,  Wm. 
Shiver,  John  R.  Talley,  W.  H.  Ritter.  Co.  G — John  G.  Ersley,  Samuel  Reasoner? 
Frank  A.  Wood,  Wilson  W.  Wilcox,  Wiley  Jackson.  Co.  H — Wm.  Holliday,  La.  F. 
Harrington,  Jerome  Knight,  John  Romig,  Joshua  Woolsey.  Co.  I — -Willis  Knight, 


510  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS, 

James  McNulty,  Joel  A.  Hall,  David  A.  Hutchinson,  Adolphus  Godfrey.     Co.  K— - 
Wilber  Dickerson,  Jacob  Butchle,  Henry  Ticknor,  Willis  Brud,  Thos.  Frashure. 

FORTY-SECOND  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

SERGEANTS. --J.  Y.  Elliott,  Co.  A ;  P.  Short,  B  ;  0.  Powell,  C ;  G  W.  Eells,  D  ; 
W.  H.  Colburn,  E ;  C.  A.  Seaver,  F;  W.  H.  Kipsley,  G;  E.  Have,  H;  J.  S.  Wilson, 
I ;  S.  W.  King,  K. 

CORPORALS.— W.  W.  Norton,  Co.  A;  B.  Conrad,  B ;  T.  W.  Maxwell,  C  ;  H.  Wells, 
D ;  W.  H.  Clark,  E ;  H.  Delong,  F ;  J.  Sheeney,  G ;  William  Shimp,  H ;  J.  Valor, 
I;-J.  Beard,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — M.  Whetstone,  L.  Mott,  L.  0.  Oliver,  A.  Isaac,  J.  Blatzer. 
Co.  B— D.  Fishburn,  F.  Hensey,  P.  Risedorph,  H.  E.  Teachnot,  H.  Arnold.  Co.  C— 
A.  Lamphere,  P.  McConnell,  H.  F.  Leonard,  J.  Sharp,  G.  D.  Weir.  Co.  D— H. 
Scramlin,  A.  F.  Fuller,  R.  W.  Pluminer,  G.  K  Brown,  P.  Shuntz.  Co..E— E.  W. 
Vaugh,  S.  Hitsman,  J.  W.  Riley,  J.  H.  Smith,  W.  Leonard.  Co.  F— N.  Salisbury, 
W.  A.  Raymond,  Wm.  W.  Rich,  G.  Guser.  Co.  G— J.  Gleason,  D.  Laland,  N.  B. 
Collins,  S.  Magher,  S.  Freeman.  Co.  H — E.  Wilcox,  W.  Dittus,  J.  Woodruff,  J.  E. 
Tate,  J.  Colcomb.  Co.  I— W.  H.  Bennett,  A.  H.  Woodale,  W.  Kellogg,  H.  Kale, 
W.  II.  Carson.  Co.  K— G.  W.  Palmer,  0.  Hendrickson,  J.  Stitler,  W.  Mott,  W. 
Wright. 

FIFTY-FIRST  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

SERGEANTS. — John  R.  Parker,  Co.  A ;  Thos.  Daily,  C.  H.  Thomas,  B ;  Richard 
Barbour,  D  ;  Iven  Bailey,  C  ;  Barton  Bunnel,  E  ;  George  D.  Goldsly,  F;  Calvin  Ser 
vice,  G ;  N.  Kinsman,  H ;  Chas.  Hills,  K. 

CORPORALS.— -Chas.  Nelson,  Chas.  H.  Merrill,  Co.  A ;  Geo.  Kirby,  B ;  John  D. 
Rumbo,  C ;  Jerome  Mangan,  D ;  George  Harris,  E ;  John  T.  Wright,  F ;  John  L. 
Allen,  G ;  Thomas  Gregg,  H ;  M.  V.  Riley,  K. 

PRIVATES. — Co.  A — Wm.  E.  Armstrong,  James  Connell,  (No.  1),  Presley  Guyman, 
Joseph  Jones,  Michael  Sentell.  Co.  B — Robert  Armstrong,  John  B.  Eldridge,  E  P. 
Fredericks,  James  Gilchrist,  Geo.  W.  White.  Co.  C-^-James  Brown,  Allen  East- 
brun,  Daniel  Flott,  Leander  Hogle,  Oscar  Wade.  Co.  D — Wm.  Ainsworth,  J.  L. 
McBride,  John  L.  McGuire,  Wm.  Ruble,  John  T.  Stretch.  Co.  E — Joseph  Gerard, 
M.  W.  Romine,  George  Chambers,  James  Skidmore,  John  Smart.  Co  F — Thos. 
McCamack,  John  Hurley,  Joseph  C.  Goodale,  John  Purkapile,  John  Williams.  Co. 
G — Thomas  Corey,  William  Duggan,  Thomas  Chambers,  Peter  Nolan,  Michael  Corey. 
Co.  H— Benj.  Golden,  Willard  F.  Powker,  Alex.  W.  Jack,  Wm.  Lindy,  David  W. 
Reed.  Co.  K — Edward  Burns,  Daniel  Ebert>  Wm.  Patterson,  Robert  Stack,  Fred- 
erick  Thompson. 


OHAPTEE    XXXI. 

THE  UTTERANCES  OF  THE  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS  DURING  THE  WAR — THE  EMANCIPA* 
TION  PROCLAMATION,  THE  KEY  NOTE  OF  THE  CAMPAIGN — THE  GREAT  SPEECH  OF  HON 
EST  FARMER  FUNK — A  STIRRING  LETTER  FROM  GEN.  LOGAN  TO  His  SOLDIERS — LET 
TER  FROM  COL.  FRANK  SHERMAN — EXTRACTS  FROM  SPEECHES  OF  HON.  RICHARD  YATES, 
HON.  LYMAN  TRUMBULL,  HON.  OWEN  LOVEJOY,  GEN.  FARNSWORTH,  HON.  I.  N.  AR 
NOLD,  &c. — PRESIDENT  LINCOLN'S  PROCLAMATION,  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS  AND  LAST 
SPEECH — THE  NORTH  AMERICAN  REVIEW  AND  KENTUCKY  LETTER — MR.  LINCOLN  DEAD 

THE  patriotism  of  Illinois  has  not  only  been  manifested  on  the 
field,  not  only  proven  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet  and  the  mouth 
of  the  cannon,  but  in  the  utterances  of  her  sons  on  the  battle-field, 
in  the  halls  of  Congress,  and  at  home.  The  literature  of  the  war 
has  been  enriched  with  her  eloquence,  and  adorned  with  the  glowing 
and  zealous  appeals  in  behalf  of  the  constitution,  and  the  laws. 
From  the  President  down  to  the  private,  for  her  soldiers  have  car 
ried  the  pen  with  the  sword,  these  utterances  have  been  made  in  no 
uncertain  manner,  and  in  the  present  chapter  we  propose  to  select 
extracts  here  and  there  from  speeches,  proclamations  and  letters, 
illustrating  the  general  character  and  sentiment  of  the  people. 

First  above  all  other  utterances  is  that  edict  which  sounded  the 
key-note  of  the  war.  For  thirty  years  brave  men,  the  pioneers  in 
the  van  of  human  progress  had  built  the  approaches,  cleared  away 
the  obstructions,  and  by  slow  steps  educated  the  people  up  to  the 
necessity  of  removing  slavery  as  an  imperative  and  vital  condition 
to  the  permanent  safety  of  the  Republic.  On  the  first  day  of  January, 
1863,  Abraham  Lincoln  made  the  first  assault  upon  the  citadel  of 
slavery ;  spoke  the  immortal  words  that  loosened  the  shackles  of  the 
bondmen  and  let  the  oppressed  go  free ;  that  proclaimed  to  the 
World  this  war  was  not  waged  by  the  North  for  aggrandizement  or 


512  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

through  malice,  but  that  it  had  drawn  its  sword  in  the  interests  of 
religion,  humanity,  equality,  civilization  and  progress. 

That  memorable  edict  which  so  brightly  marks  the  incoming  of 
the  year  of  our  Lord  1863  was  as  follows: 

THE  EMANCIPATION  PROCLAMATION. 

"WASHINGTON,  January  1,  1863. 
"_Z?y  the  President  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

"WHEREAS,  On  the  22d  day  of  September,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1862,  a  procla 
mation  was  issued  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  containing  among  other 
things  the  following,  to  wit : 

"That,  on  the  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  sixty-three,  all  persons  held  as  slaves  within  any  State,  or  designated 
part  of  a  State,  the  people  whereof  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United 
States,  shall  be  thenceforth  and  forever  free,  and  the  executive  government  of  the 
United  States,  including  the  military  and  naval  authority  thereof,  will  recognize  and 
maintain  the  freedom  of  such  persons,  and  will  do  no  act  or  acts  to  repress  such 
persons,  or  any  of  them,  in  any  effort  they  may  make  for  their  actual  freedom  ;  that 
the  executive  will  on  the  first  day  of  January  aforesaid,  issue  a  proclamation  desig 
nating  the  States  and  parts  of  States,  if  any,  in  which  the  people  therein  respect 
ively  shall  then  be  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States ;  and  the  fact  that  any 
state,  or  the  people  thereof,  shall  on  that  day  be  in  good  faith  represented  in  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  by  members  chosen  thereto  at  elections  wherein  a 
majority  of  the  qualified  voters  of  such  States  shall  have  participated,  shall,  in  the 
absence  of  strong  countervailing  testimony,  be  deemed  conclusive  evidence  that 
such  State  and  the  people  thereof  are  not  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States. 

"Now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln,  President  of  the  United  States,  by  virtue 
of  the  power  in  me  vested  as  Commander- in-Chief  of  the  Army  and  Navy,  in  a  time 
of  actual  armed  rebellion  against  the  authority  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  as  a  fit  and  necessary  war  measure  for  suppressing  said  rebellion,  do,  on  this 
first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty- 
three,  and  in  accordance  with  my  purpose  so  to  do,  publicly  proclaimed  for  the  full 
period  of  one  hundred  days  from  the  date  of  the  first  above  mentioned  order,  desig 
nate  as  the  States  and  parts  of  States  therein,  the  people  whereof  respectively  are 
this  day  in  rebellion  against  the  United  States,  the  following,  to  wit :  Arkansas, 
Texas  and  Louisiana,  (except  the  Parishes  of  St.  Bernard,  Plaquemine,  Jefferson, 
St.  John,  St.  Charles,  St.  James,  Ascension,  Assumption,  Terrebonne,  La  Fourche, 
St.  Mary,  St.  Martin,  and  Orleans,  including  the  city  of  New  Orleans),  Mississippi, 
Alabama,  Florida,  Georgia,  South  Carolina,  North  Carolina  and  Virginia,  (except 
the  forty-eight  counties  designated  as  West  Virginia,  and  also  the  counties  of  Berk 
ley,  Accomac,  Northampton,  Elizabeth  City,  York,  Princess  Ann  and  Norfolk,  in 
cluding  the  cities  of  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth),  which  excepted  parts  are  for  the 


FARMER  FUNK.  513 

present  left  precisely  as  if  this  Proclamation  were  not  issued ;  and  by  virtue  of  the 
power  and  for  the  purpose  aforesaid,  I  do  order  and  declare  that  all  persons  l.eld  as 
slaves  within  the  designated  States,  and  parts  of  States,  are  and  henceforward  shall  be 
tree,  and  that  the  Executive  Government  of  the  United  States,  includi:  g  the  mili 
tary  and  naval  authorities  thereof,  will  recognize  and  maintain  the  freedom  of  the 
^aid  persons,  and  I  hereby  enjoin  upon  the  people  so  declared  to  be  free>  to  abstain 
from  a;l  violence,  unless  in  necessary  self-defense,  and  I  recommend  to  them  that  in 
all  cases  where  allowed,  they  labor  faithfully  for  reasonable  wages,  and  I  farther  de 
clare  and  make  known  that  such  persons  of  suitable  condition,  will  be  received 
into  the  armed  service  of  the  United  States,  to  garrison  forts,  positions,  stations 
and  other  places,  and  to  man  vessels  of  all  sorts  in  said  service. 

"  And  upon  this  sincerely  believed  to  be  an  act  of  justice,  warranted  by  the  con 
stitution,  upon  military  necessity,  I  invoke  the  considerate  judgment  of  mankind 
and  the  gracious  favor  of  Almighty  God. 

"In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the  seal  of  the 
United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"  Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  first  day  of  January,  in  the  year  of  our 
Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-three,  and  of  the  Independence  of  the 
United  States  of  America  the  eighty-seventh. 

"  (Signed)  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

'•'By  the  Pres:dent: 

"  WM.  H.  SKWARD,  Secretary  of  State." 

"HONEST  FARMER'*  FUNK. 

On  the  13th  of  February,  in  the  same  year,  a  speech  was  delivered 
in  the  Illinois  Senate  by  Hon.  Isaac  Funk,  an  old  man  and  one  of  the 
wealthiest  farmers  in  the  State,  which,  for  brevity,  bluntness  and 
energy,  has  rarely  been  excelled.  Made  on  the  spur  of  the  mo 
ment,  struck  off  at  white  heat,  and  delivered  in  indignant  response 
to  the  efforts  of  partizans  to  stave  off  a  vote  upon  the  appropria 
tions  for  the  support  of  the  State  government,  it  gained  a  wide  cir 
culation  and  achieved  a  national  fame.  The  Senate  was  crowded 
with  spectators,  when  Mr.  Funk  rose  and  said  : 

"  MR.  SPEAKER: — I  can  Bit  in  my  seat  no  longer  and  see  such  boys'  play  going  on. 
These  men  are  trifling  with  the  best  interests  of  the  country.  They  should  have 
asses'  ears  to  set  off  their  heads,  or  they  are  secessionists  and  traitors  at  heart. 

"I  say  that  there  are  traitors  and  secessionists  at  heart  in  this  Senate.  Their 
actions  prove  it.  Their  speeches  prove  it.  Their  gibes  and  laughter  and  cheers 
here  n'ghtlv,  when  their  speakers  get  up  in  this  hall  and  denounce  the  war  and  the 
Administration,  prove  it. 

"  I  can  sit  here  no  longer  and  not  tell  these  traitors  what  I  think  of  them.  And 
33 


514  PATRIOTISM    OF  ILLINOIS. 

while  so  telling  them,  I  am  responsible  myself  for  what  I  say.  I  stand  upon  my 
own  bottom.  I  am  ready  to  meet  any  man  on  this  floor,  in  any  manner,  from  a, 
pin's  point  to  the  mouth  of  a  cannon,  upon  this  charge  against  these  traitors, 
[Tremendous  applause  from  the  galleries.]  I  am  an  old  man  of  sixty-five.  I  came 
to  Illinois  a  poor  boy.  I  have  made  a  little  something  for  myself  and  family.  I  pay 
$3,000  a  year  in  taxes.  I  am  willing  to  pay  $6,000,  aye  $12,000,  [great  cheering, 
the  old  gentleman  bringing  down  his  fist  upon  his  desk  with  a  blow  that  would 
knock  down  a  bullock,  and  causing  the  ink-stand  to  bound  a  half  dozen  inches  in  the 
air],  aye,  I  am  willing  to  pay  my  whole  fortune,  and  then  give  my  life  to  save  my 
country  from  these  traitors  that  are  seeking  to  destroy  it.  [Tremendous  cheers  and 
applause,  which  the  Speaker  could  not  subdue.] 

Mr.  Speaker,  you  must  please  excuse  me.  I  could  not  sit  longer  in  my  seat  and 
calmly  listen  to  these  traitors.  My  heart,  that  feels  for  my  poor  country,  would 
not  let  me.  My  heart  that  cries  out  for  the  lives  of  our  brave  volunteers  in  the 
field,  that  these  traitors  at  home  are  destroying  by  thousands,  would  not  let  me. 
My  heart,  that  bleeds  for  the  widows  and  orphans  at  home,  would  not  let  me.  Yes, 
these  villains  and  traitors  and  secessionists  in  this  Senate  [striking  his  clenched  fist 
on  the  desk  with  a  blow  that  made  the  house  ring  again]  are  killing  my  neighbors' 
boys,  now  fighting  in  the  field.  I  dare  to  tell  this  to  these  traitors,  to  their  faces, 
and  that  I  am  responsible  for  what  I  say  to  one  or  all  of  them.  [Cheers.]  Let  them 
come  on,  right  here.  I  am  sixty-five  years  old,  and  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to 
risk  my  life  right  here,  on  this  floor,  for  my  country. 

"  These  men  sneered  at  Col.  Mack,  a  day  or  two  ago.  He  is  a  little  man  ;  but  I  am 
a  large  man.  I  am  ready  to  meet  any  of  them  in  place  of  Col.  Mack.  I  am  large 
enough  for  them,  and  I  hold  myself  ready  for  them  now,  and  at  any  time.  [Cheers 
from  the  galleries.] 

"  Mr.  Speaker,  these  traitors  on  this  floor  should  be  provided  with  hempen  col 
lars.  They  deserve  them.  They  deserve  them.  They  deserve  hanging,  I  say.  [Rais 
ing  his  voice  and  violently  striking  the  desk.]  The  country  would  be  better  off  to 
swing  them  up.  I  go  for  hanging  them,  and  I  dare  to  tell  them  so,  right  here,  to 
their  traitors'  faces.  Traitors  should  be  hung.  It  would  be  the  salvation  of  the 
country,  to  hang  them.  For  that  reason,  I  would  rejoice  at  it.  [Tremendous  cheer- 
ing-] 

Mr.  Speaker :  I  beg  pardon  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  Senate  who  are  not  traitors, 
but  true,  loyal  men,  for  what  I  have  said.  I  only  intend  it  and  mean  it  for  seces 
sionists  at  heart.  They  are  here,  in  this  Senate.  I  see  them  joke  and  smirk  and 
grin  at  a  true  Union  man.  But  I  defy  them.  I  stand  here  ready  for  them  and  dare 
them  to  come  on.  [Great  cheering.]  What  man  with  the  heart  of  a  patriot  could 
stand  this  treason  any  longer  ?  I  have  stood  it  long  enough.  I  will  stand  it  no 
more.  [Cheers.]  I  denounce  these  men  and  their  aiders  and  abettors  as  rank 
traitors  and  secessionists.  Hell  itself  could  not  spew  out  a  more  traitorous  crew 
than  some  of  the  men  who  disgrace  this  Legislature,  this  State  and  this  country. 
For  inysslf,  I  protest  against  and  denounce  their  treasonable  acts.  I  have  voted 


51 5 

Against  their  measures.  I  will  do  so  to  the  end.  I  will  denounce  them  as  long  as 
God  gives  me  breath.  And  I  am  ready  to  meet  the  traitors  themselves  here  or  any* 
Where,  and  fight  them  to  the  death.  [Prolonged  cheers  and  shouts.] 

I  said  I  paid  three  thousand  dollars  a  year  taxes.  I  do  not  say  it  to  brag  of  it.  It 
is  my  duty — yes,  Mr.  Speaker,  my  privilege  to  do  it.  But  some  of  the  traitors  here, 
who  are  working  night  and  day  to  get  their  miserable  little  bills  and  claims  through 
the  Legislature,  to  take  money  out  of  the  pockets  of  the  people,  are  talking  about 
high  taxes.  They  are  hypocrites,  as  well  as  traitors.  I  heard  some  of  them  talking 
about  high  taxes  in  this  way,  who  do  not  pay  five  dollars  to  support  the  Govern 
ment.  I  denounce  them  as  hypocrites  as  well  as  traitors.  [Cheers.] 

"The  reason  that  they  pretend  to  be  afraid  of  high  taxes  is  that  they  do  not  want 
to  vote  money  for  the  relief  of  the  soldiers.  They  want  also  to  embarass  the  Gov 
ernment  and  stop  the  war.  They  want  to  aid  the  secessionists  to  conquer  our  boys 
in  the  field.  They  care  about  taxes  ?  They  are  picayune  men  any  how.  They  pay 
no  taxes  at  all,  and  never  did,  and  never  hope  to,  unless  they  can  manage  to  plund 
er  the  Government.  [Cheers.]  This  is  an  excuse  of  traitors. 

"Mr.  Speaker:  Excuse  me.  I  feel  for  my  country  in  this  her  hour  of  danger  ;  I 
feel  for  her  from  the  tips  of  my  toes  to  the  ends  of  my  hair.  That  is  the  reason 
that  I  speak  as  I  do.  I  cannot  help  it.  I  am  bound  to  tell  these  men  to  their  teeth 
what  they  are,  and  what  the  people,  the  true  loyal  people,  think  of  them. 

"Mr.  Speaker:  I  have  said  my  say.  I  am  no  speaker.  This  is  the  only  speech  I 
have  made.  And  I  do  not  know  that  it  deserves  to  be  called  a  speech.  I  could  not 
sit  still  any  longer,  and  see  these  scoundrels  and  traitors  work  out  their  selfish 
schemes  to  destroy  the  Union.  They  have  my  sentiments.  Let  them  one  and  all 
make  the  most  of  them.  I  am  ready  to  back  up  all  I  say,  and  I  repeat  it,  to  meet 
these  traitors  in  any  manner  they  may  choose,  from  a  pin's  point  to  the  mouth  of  a 


GENERAL  LOGAN, 

On  the  12th  of  February  1863,  General  Logan  issued  the  follow- 
ing  stirring  appeal  to  his  soldiers.  The  appeal  is  dated  at  Memphis, 
and  created  a  perfect  storm  of  enthusiasm  among  his  troops  who 
almost  worshipped  their  commander : 

"Mr  FELLOW  SOLDIERS: — Debility  from  recent  illness  has  prevented  and  still  pre 
vents  me  from  appearing  amongst  you,  as  has  been  my  custom,  and  is  my  desire. 
It  is  for  this  cause  I  deem  it  my  duty  to  communicate  with  you  now,  and  give  you 
the  assurance  that  your  General  still  maintains  unshaken  confidence  in  your  patriot 
ism,  devotion,  and  in  the  ultimate  success  of  our  glorious  cause. 

"I  am  aware  that  influences  of  the  most  discouraging  and  treasonable  character, 
well  calculated  and  designed  to  render  you  dissatisfied,  have  recently  been  brought 
to  bear  upon  some  of  you  by  professed  friends.  Newspapers,  containing  treasonable 
•articles,  artfully  falsifying  the  public  sentiment  £t  your  homes,  have  beea  circulated 


516  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

in  your  camps.  Intriguing  political  tricksters,  demagogues,  and  time-servers,  whose 
corrupt  deeds  are  but  a  faint  reflex  of  their  more  corrupt  hearts,  seem  determined 
to  drive  our  people  on  to  anarchy  and  destruction.  They  have  hoped,  by  magnlfiy- 
ing  the  reverses  of  our  arms,  basely  misrepresenting  the  conduct  and  slandering  the 
character  of  our  soldiers  in  the  field,  and  boldly  denouncing  the  acts  of  the  consti 
tuted  authorities  of  the  government  as  unconstitutional  usurpations,  to  produce  gen 
eral  demoralization  in  the  army,  and  thereby  reap  their  political  reward,  weaken  the 
cause  we  have  espoused,  and  aid  those  arch  traitors  of  the  South  to  dismember  our 
mighty  Republic  and  trail  in  the  dust  the  emblem  of  our  national  unify,  greatness 
and  glory.  Let  me  remind  you,  my  countrymen,  that  we  are  soldiers  of  the  Federal 
Union,  armed  for  the  preservation  of  the  Federal  Constitution  and  the  maintenance 
of  its  laws  and  authority.  Upon  your  faithfulness  and  devotion,  heroism  arid  gal 
lantry,  depend  its  perpetuity.  To  us  has  been  committed  this  sacred  inheritance, 
baptized  in  the  blood  of  our  fathers.  We  are  soldiers  of  a  government  that  has 
always  blessed  us  with  prosperity  and  happiness. 

"It  has  given  to  every  American  citizen  the  largest  freedom  and  the  most  perfect 
equality  of  rights  and  privileges.  It  has  afforded  us  security  in  person  and  property, 
and  blessed  us  until,  under  its  beneficent  influence,  we  were  the  proudest  nation  OP 
earth. 

"  We  should  be  united  in  our  efforts  to  put  down  a  rebellion,  that  now,  like  an 
earthquake,  rocks  the  nation  from  State  to  State,  from  center  to  circumference,  and 
threatens  to  engulf  us  all  in  one  common  ruin,  the  horrors  of  which  no  pen  can  por 
tray.  We  have  solemnly  sworn  to  bear  true  faith  to  this  government,  preserve  its 
Constitution,  and  defend  its  glorious  flag  against  all  its  enemies  and  opposers.  To 
our  hands  has  been  committed  the  liberties,  the  prosperity  and  happiness  of  future 
generations.  Shall  we  betray  such  a  trust?  Shall  the  brilliancy  of  your  past 
achievements  be  dimmed  and  tarnished  by  hesitation,  discord  and  dissension,  whilst 
armed  traitors  menace  you  in  front  and  unarmed  traitors  intrigue  against  you  in  the 
rear  ?  We  are  in  no  way  responsible  for  any  action  of  the  civii  authorities.  We 
constitute  the  military  arm  of  the  Government.  That  the  civil  power  is  threatened 
and  attempted  to  be  paralyzed,  is  the  reason  for  resort  to  the  military  power.  To 
aid  the  civil  authorities  (not  to  oppose  or  obstruct)  in  the  exercise  of  their  authority 
is  our  office,  and  shall  we  forget  this  duty,  and  stop  to  wrangle  and  dispute  while  the 
country  is  bleeding  at  every  pore,  on  this  or  that  political  act  or  measure  whilst  a 
fearful  wail  of  anguish,  wrung  from  the  heart  of  a  distracted  people  is  borne  upon 
every  breeze,  and  widows  and  orphans  are  appealing  to  us  to  avenge  the  loss  of  their 
loved  ones  who  have  fallen  by  our  side  in  defence  of  its  old  blood-stained  bonner, 
and  whilst  the  Temple  of  Liberty  itself  is  being  shaken  to  the  very  center  by  the 
ruthless  blows  of  traitors,  who  have  desecrated  our  flag — obstructed  our  national 
highways,  destroyed  our  peace,  desolated  our  firesides,  and  draped  thousands  of 
homes  in  mourning  ? 

"Let  us  stand  firm  at  our  posts  of  duty  and  of  honor,  yielding  a  cheerful  obedi 
ence  to  all  orders  from  our  superiors,  until  by  our  united  efforts,  the  Stars  and 


517 

Stripes  shall  be  planted  in  every  city,  town  and  hamlet  of  the  rebellious  States.  We 
can  then  return  to  our  homes  and  through  the  ballot-box  peacefully  redress  all  our 
wrongs,  if  any  we  have. 

"Whilst  I  rely  upon  you  with  confidence  and  pride,  I  blush  to  confess  that  recent 
ly  some  of  those  who  were  once  our  comrades  in  arms  have  so  far  forgotten  their 
honor,  their  oaths  and  their  country,  as  to  shamefully  desert  us,  and  skulkingly  make 
their  way  to  their  homes,  where,  like  culprits,  they  dare  not  look  an  honest  man  in 
the  face.  Disgrace  and  ignominy  (if  they  escape  the  penalty  of  the  law)  will  not 
only  follow  them  to  their  dishonored  graves,  but  will  stamp  their  names  and  lineage 
with  infamy  to  the  latest  generation.  The  scorn  and  contempt  of  every  true  man 
will  ever  follow  those  base  men,  who,  forgetful  of  their  oaths,  have,  like  cowardly 
spaniels,  deserted  their  comrades  in  arms  in  the  face  of  the  foe,  and  their  country  in 
the  hour  of  its  greatest  peril.  Every  true-hearted  mother  or  father,  brother,  sister 
or  wife,  will  spurn  the  coward  who  could  thus  not  only  disgrace  himself,  but  his 
name  and  his  kindred.  An  indelible  stamp  of  infamy  should  be  branded  upon  his 
cheek,  that  all  who  look  upon  his  vile  countenance  may  feel  for  him  the  contempt 
his  cowardice  merits.  Could  I  believe  that  such  conduct  found  either  justification 
or  excuse  in  your  hearts,  or  that  you  would  for  a  moment  falter  in  our  glorious  pur 
pose  of  saving  the  nation  from  threatened  wreck  and  hopeless  ruin,  I  would  invoke 
from  Deity  as  the  greatest  boon,  a  common  grave  to  save  us  from  such  infamy  and 
disgrace. 

"  The  day  is  not  far  distant  when  traitors  and  cowards,  North  and  South,  will 
cower  before  the  indignation  of  an  outraged  people.  MARCH  BRAVELY  ONWARD  ! 
Nerve  your  strong  arms  to  the  task  of  overthrowing  every  obstacle  in  the  pathway 
of  victory  until  with  shouts  of  triumph  the  last  gun  is  fired  that  proclaims  us  a  uni 
ted  people  under  the  old  Flag  and  one  Government!  PATRIOT  SOLDIERS!  This 
great  work  accomplished,  the  reward  for  such  service  as  yours  will  be  realized ;  the 
blessings  and  honors  of  a  grateful  people  will  be  yours. 

JOHN  A.  LOGAN,  Brig.-General  Commanding. 

COL.  FRAN'C  SHERMAN. 

About  the  same  time  Col.  Frank  Sherman,  of  the  88th  Illinois, 
son  of  Hon.  Francis  Sherman,  of  Chicago,  wrote  a  letter  from  which 
we  take  the  following  eloquent  extract : 

*  *  *  "What  can  our  people  be  thinking  of,  when  they  go  so  far  with  their 
partisan  feeling,  as  to  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  our  country  is  now  passing  through 
the  darkest  hours  of  her  history.  With  armed  rebellion  in  our  front,  and  insidious 
foes  and  traitors  in  our  rear,  she  needs  that  all  true  patriots  should  step  forth,  at 
whatever  cost  or  sacrifice,  and  crush  out  traitors  at  home  who  are  trying  to  poison 
the  minds  of  the  weak  and  fearful,  whose  minds  are  worked  upon  by  their  hellish 
running  and  damnable  sentiments  of  party,  who  wish  to  save  the  country  through 
dishonorable  overtures  to  rebels  in  arms,  .and  make  us,  as  a  people,  a  by-word  for  all 
iime  to  come. 


I>1S  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

"  The  soldiers  here,  when  they  look  back  to  their  homes  and  firesides,  that  tliej 
have  left  for  love  of  country,  and  to  preserve  the  rich  inheritance  left  us  by  the 
fathers  of  the  Revolution,  feel  that,  i»  the  recent  political  struggle  for  power  and 
party,  they  have  been  ignored  by  all  parties,  and  left  here  to  contend  against  dis 
ease,  death,  and  an  ever  vigilant  foe  alone,  whilst  the  fanatics  of  the  North  are 
giving  aid  and  comfort  to  rebellion,  and  revive  their  broken  fortunes  by  their  (the 
North's)  infernal  dissensions. 

"  Let  the  disunionists  of  the  North  take  heed.  We  do  not  propose  quietly  to  til- 
low  them  to  trample  on  our  rights,  and  help  dig  our  graves.  What  we  expect  and 
look  for  is,  that  men  will  not  long  be  allowed  to  utter  traitorous  sentiments  at  our 
homes ;  that  there  is  true  patriotism  enough  left  to  save  the  country,  i*nd  rub  out 
traitors  of  all  degrees  at  home,  in  the  guise  of  loyalty,  to  whatever  party  they  may 
belong.  The  soldiers  here,  recognize,  in  the  President,  one  who  is  constitutionally 
authorized  to  administer  the  laws  and  direct  the  operations  of  the  army  and  navy. 
As  Commander-m-Chief,  he  has  the  undoubted  right  to  issue  orders  and  proclama 
tions,  whenever  the  exigencies  of  the  service  require  it,  to  suppress  armed  rebellion 
against  the  Government  that  he,  as  its  Chief  Magistrate,  has  sworn  to  protect.  Wer 
the  soldiers  of  the  United  States,  called  forth  to  save  the  country,  dropped  our  po 
litical  differences  when  we  entered  its  service,  and  took  the  oath  that  we  would  obey 
the  "orders"  of  the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  we  intend  to  do  it;  and, 
every  officer  and  soldier  that  I  have  talked  with,  in  regard  to  our  duty,  agrees  with 
me;  L  e.,  that  we  will  sustain,  to  the  death,  our  Commander-in-Chief,  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  in  all  measures  and  orders  that  he  may  issue  for  the  crushing 
of  the  rebellion  in  the  Southern  States ;  and  we  call  on  the  North  to  lay  aside  their 
bitter  feelings,  engendered  by  strife  for  power,  and  unite,  and  come  up  with  a  steady 
front  on  the  war  question,  and  demonstrate  that  it  is  the  determination  of  the  North,. 
at  all  hazards,  to  furnish  men  and  means  to  prosecute  this  war  to  a  finality;  that 
traitors  shall  be  punished ;  and,  my  word  for  it,  this  war  will  not  last  one  year  long 
er.  Those  of  us  who  are  left,  can  lay  down  our  arms  and  return  to  our  homes,  and  we 
shall  again  have  a  happy  and  prosperous  country,  respected  and  feared  by  all  the  na 
tions  of  the  earth.  Pursue  the  mad  policy  of  partisan  politics,  and  we  are  lost ;  un 
hesitatingly  yielding  to  the  demands  made  upon  us  by  the  Government,  to  root  out 
this  great  wrong  that  is  ruining  one  of  the  fairest  portions  of  man's  inheritance, 
all  will  be  well.  But,  rest  assured  of  one  thing :  the  soldiers  are  loyal,  and  will 
support  the  Government,  and  that  they  would  as  soon  war  on  traitors  in  Illinois  as 
in  Tennessee.  The  soldiers  must  not  be  ignored,  nor  must  it  be  forgotten  that  we 
yet  have  rights,  and  a  voice  at  home,  and  an  interest  in  our  country. 

F.  T.  SHKRMAN, 
"Colonel  Commanding  88th  Illinois  Volunteers.." 

HON.  RICHARD  YATES. 
Few  words  more  eloquent  have  been  spoken  or  written  than  are- 


519 

contained  in  the  closing  sentences  of  Governor  Yates'  message,  de 
livered  Jan.  5,  1863.     The  Governor  says: 

*  *     *     #     «i  can  think  of  no  peace  worth  having,  short  of  crushing  out  the 
rebellion  and  the  complete  restoration  of  the  authority  of  the  Government.     The 
only  way  to  honorable  and  permanent  peace  is  through  war — desolating,  extermi 
nating  war.     We  must  move  on  the  enemy's  works.     We  must  move  forward  with 
tremendous  energy,  with  accumulated  thousands  of  men  and  the  most  terrible  en 
ginery  of  war.     This  will  be  the  shortest  road  to  peace  and  be  accompanied  with  the 
least  cost  of  life  and  treasure  in  the  end. 

"  If  our  brave  boys  shall  fall  in  the  field,  we  must  bury  the  dead,  take  care  of  and 
bring  home  the  sick  and  wounded,  and  send  fresh  battalions  to  fill  up  the  broken 
ranks  and  to  deal  out  death,  destruction  and  desolation  to  the  rebels.  We  might 
talk  of  compromise,  if  it  affected  us  alone,  but  it  would  affect  our  children  and  our 
children's  children,  in  all  the  years  of  the  future.  The  interests  to  be  affected  are 
far  reaching  and  universal  humanity,  and  lasting  as  the  generations  of  mankind.  I 
have  never  had  my  faith  in  the  perpetual  union  of  these  States  to  falter.  I  believe 
this  infernal  rebellion  can  be,  ought  to  be,  and  will  be  subdued.  The  land  may  be 
left  a  howling  waste,  desolated  by  the  bloody  footsteps  of  war  from  Delaware  Bay  to 
the  Gulf,  but  our  territory  shall  remain  unmutilated — the  country  shall  be  one,  and 
it  shall  be  free  in  all  its  broad  boundaries,  from  Maine  to  the  Gulf,  and  from  ocean 
to  ocean. 

"  In  any  event,  may  we  be  able  to  act  a  worthy  part  in  the  trying  scenes  through 
which  we  are  passing ;  and  should  the  star  of  our  destiny  sink  to  rise  no  more,  may 
we  feel  for  ourselves,  and  may  history  preserve  our  record  clear  before  heaven  and 
earth,  and  hand  down  the  testimony  to  our  children,  that  we  have  done  all,  periled 
and  endured  all,  to  perpetuate  the  priceless  heritage  of  Liberty  and  Union  unim 
paired  to  our  posterity." 

The  earlier  stages  of  the  war  were  marked  with  many  eloquent 
appeals  to  the  people  at  war  meetings  held  for  the  purpose  of  filling 
up  the  ranks  and  collecting  and  forwarding  supplies  to  Illinois  troops 
in  the  army.  From  a  few  of  the  speeches  delivered  at  that  time,  we 
select  the  following : 

HON.  LYMAN  TRUMBULL. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  Chicago,  Oct.  18,  1862,  Hon.  Lyman  Trum- 
bull  said : 

*  *     *     "I  occupied,  in  the  commencement,  some  time  in  commenting  on  this 
Constitution,  the  wisdum  with  which  it  was  framed.     I  believe  it  established  the 
best  system  of  government  which  was  ever  devised.     I  know  that  under  its  benign 
influence  we  have  prospered  without  example  in  the  history  of  nations.     If  we  can 
remove  this  one  element,  the  cause  of  all  the  troubles  we  have  had,  I  know  not  why 
this  Constitution  may  not  be  perpetuated  for  ages. 


520  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

"It  contains  within  itself  the  means  of  modification  in  a  peaceable  way,  if  in  the 
changing  conditions  of  society  any  alterations  should  hereafter  be  necessary.  Under 
the  Constitution  every  man  may  be  secured  in  his  individual  rights.  It  securer  by 
fundamental  law  the  liberties  of  the  citizen,  the  very  thing  which  mankind  iuiv; 
been  struggling  to  establish  for  ages.  It  recognizes  the  right  of  the  people  to  ru>. 
It  is  based,  as  I  said,  upon  the  great  idea  of  equality  among  men.  It  repudiates  the 
notion  which  has  prevailed  for  thousands  of  years,  that  any  one  man  or  set  of  men 
is  born  with  a  right  to  lord  it  orer  his  fellow  man  and  live  upon  the  earnings  of  the 
mass  of  the  people.  We  desire  to  restore  the  Constitution  in  its  original  state — t'. 
preserve  it  just  as  it  is.  We  do  not  propose  to  alter  it.  We  want  to  make  it  ef 
ficient  in  all  its  parts  and  provisions,  in  all  places.  We  want  it  to  protect  a  rn.au  in 
South  Carolina  in  saying  and  publishing  what  he  pleases  just  as  it  protects  a  man  in 
Massachusetts.  Practically  it  has  not  done  that  for  the  last  forty  years.  Do  away 
with  the  institution  of  slavery,  and  a,  man  may  talk  asf-oely  in  Mobile  as  Chicago. 

"This  institution  can  now  be  got  rid  of  through  the  folly  and  crime  of  the  slave 
owners.  [Applause.]  In  putting  down  the  rebellion  it  is  a  legitimate  exercise  of 
power,  as  I  have  shown,  to  deprive  the  rebels  of  the  support  of  their  slaves,  a  power 
which  we  could  not  exercise  but  for  the  existence  of  the  rebellion  which  the  bluv< 
owners  have  inaugurated.  What  is  now  our  duty  as  Republicans  or  as  citizens  de 
sirous  of  crushing  the  rebellion  and  restoring  the  authority  of  the  Government  ?  It 
is  to  sustain  the  administration.  You  have,  perhaps,  sent  your  only  son  to  this  war 
— some  of  you  have  been  yourselves  ;  others  are  ready  to  go  to  maintain  constitutional 
liberty  and  preserve  the  Union. 

"For  this  cause  you  are  willing  to  make  these  sacrifices.  Thousands  upon  thou 
sands  of  our  fellow  citizens  are  now  in  the  tented  field,  undergoing  all  the  hardships 
incident  to  long  marches,  to  sleeping  upon  the  ground,  and  also  hazarding  their  lives 
in  the  front  of  battle.  Shall  we  here  at  home  remain  inactive  and  supine,  and  suf 
fer  the  Government  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  men  opposed  to  the  war,  who  \vi  1  make1 
peace  on  humiliating  terms,  or  consent  to  a  dismemberment,  when  our  brethren  in 
the  field  are  undergoing  such  hardships  for  a  cause  which  is  or  ought  to  b°  just  as  dear 
to  us  as  them  ?  Does  it  not  become  us  to  be  up  and  doing,  to  exert  all  the  power 
we  have  to  prevent  such  a  result?  If  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  falls  into 
the  hands  of  the  Peace  Democracy,  I  say  to  you  here  to-night  that  all  your  sacrifices 
of  blood  and  treasure  will  ha\*e  gone  for  naught. 

"Then  let  us  take  hold  of  this  matter;  contribute  of  your  substance  if  it  is  ne 
cessary  ;  devote  your  time  to  it ;  shut  up  your  stores ;  leave  your  business  ;  see  to  it 
that  the  civil  government  of  the  country  sustains  your  soldiers  in  the  field,  or  all  is 
gone.  What  is  your  business  worth  ?  What  is  your  property  worth  ?  What  is  life 
itself  worth,  unless  you  can  preserve  your  liberties  ?  You  may  be  the  father  of  a 
son,  who  is  down  in  Alabama  or  Mississippi,  risking  his  life  on  the  battle  field.  How 
can  you  reconcile  it  to  your  conscience  to  suffer  the  civil  government  to  fall  into  the 
hands  of  men  who  will  paralyze  the  whole  power  of  our  armies  ?  There  never  was? 
a  greater  responsibility  resting  upon  a  people  from  the  beginning  of  time.  The  re- 


MK.  LOVEJOY'S  SPEECH.  521 

suit  of  this  struggle  is  fraught  with  consequences,  either  for  weal  or  woe  to  ourselves 
and  to  future  generations,  to  a  greater  extent  than  any  other  event  which  has  tran 
spired  in  history.  If  we  preserve  these  free  institutions  now — if  we  crush  this  mon 
strous  rebellion — if  we  destroy  once  and  forever  its  cause — then  our  free  Govern 
ment  and  our  free  institutions  may  be  perpetuated  ;  but  if  the  Government  is  dis 
membered  now,  that  will  lead  to  other  dismemberments,  to  perpetual  wars,  perhaps 
to  subjugation  or  a  despotism.  Let  not  such  a  result  follow  from  any  want  of  effort 
on  our  part."  ***** 

HON.  OWEN  LOVEJOY. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  speech  delivered  by  the  late 
Hon.  Chven  Lovejoy,  August  2,  1862: 

"Fellow  Citizens  : — I  was  on  my  way  to  my  home,  when,  at  the  solicitation  of  your 
Board  of  Trade,  I  consented  to  remain  and  address  you  to-night.  I  am  delighted  at 
the  hearty  and  cordial  response  which  you  have  made  to  the  patriotic  speeches  to 
which  we  have  listened.  So  far  as  the  question  of  argument  is  concerned,  it  has 
been  exhausted.  A  son  does  not  argue  or  appeal  to  decide  as  to  the  propriety 
of  killing  the  assassin  of  his  mother  ;  neither  do  the  sons  of  the  republic  need  long- 
winded  arguments  to  induce  them  to  put  down  this  accursed  rebellion.  We  want 
men,  not  speeches  ;  men  with  muskets  in  their  hands,  not  hurrahs  from  their  throats. 
I  have  but  little  reputation  as  a  conservative  man,  so  far  as  I  have  been  informed. 
Some  people  go  so  far  as  to  say  I  am  slightly  tinctured  with  fanaticism  in  my  views 
of  the  slavery  question.  For  myself,  I  claim  to  be  a  sort  of  an  annointed  prophet 
of  the  Lord.  I  have  faith  in  God,  and  next  to  Him,  in  the  American  people.  Let 
us  not  fall  into  the  error  of  the  man  who,  standing  by  the  side  of  a  bayou  or  arm  of 
the  sea,  and  witnessing  the  ebb  of  the  tide,  exclaimed  that  the  sea  was  becoming 
dry  land  again.  Rather  let  us  say  that  behind  and  beyond  the  temporary  reverses 
now  afflicting  us,  there  will  come  up  the  great  uprising  of  popular  patriotism,  which 
in  its  certain  flood  shall  cover  with  its  proper  element  and  spirit  the  ground  lost  in 
these  temporary  reverses. 

u  It  is  not  for  any  one  of  us  to  say  that  during  the  trying  emergency  in  which  we 
are  at  present  placed,  that  he  could  manage  the  ship  of  state  more  satisfactorily 
than  the  one  who  is  now  at  the  helm.  Let  us  each  seize  a  rope  and  do  what  we  can 
to  prevent  its  destruction.  This  is  common  sense — I  call  it  good  common  sense  for 
a  '  fanatic.'  We  must  preserve  the  nation  ;  we  must  preserve  it  intact  from  rebels 
at  home  or  foreign  intervention.  We  must  not  allow  French  intervention  in  Mexi 
co.  Neither  must  we  allow  a  descendant  of  that  old  British  tyrant,  George  the 
Third,  to  plant  his  throne  in  Southern  soil  within  the  boundaries  of  the  Republic. 
We  must  therefore  defend  our  soil  even  if  every  foot  of  the  domain  is  consecrated 
with  the  blood  of  a  slain  hero.  [Cheers.]  Is  it  your  belief  and  faith  that  the  Gov 
ernment  must  be  maintained  in  its  integrity  ?  [Yes  !  yes  !]  Then  show  your  faith 
by  your  works  !  [That's  good.]  Do  you  wish  the  products  of  the  Northwest  to  ^eek 
the  ocean  at  New  Orleans,  in  front  of  frowning  batteries  planted  on  the  banks  of  the 


522  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

Father  of  Waters  ?  [No  !]  Then  why  don't  you  prevent  it  ?  We  must  preserve 
our  nationality,  and  for  myself  I  don't  want  to  survive  the  permanent  dismember 
ment  of  these  United  States.  I  had  a  thousand  times  rather  lay  down  my  life  on  the 
battle  field  than  outlive  such  a  dreadful  event.  I  don't  know  what  God  wills,  but  I 
have  a  shrewd  suspicion  that  He  wills  what  we  will.  [Applause.]  The  maintenance 
of  the  Government  and  the  perpetuity  of  the  Union  are  a  necessity.  What !  consent 
to  a  dismemberment  ?  Suppose  we  allow  the  confederates  to  secede,  what  do  we 
gain?  We  gain  a  confederacy  more  despotic  than  any  monarchy  of  Europe.  With 
Canada  on  the  north,  and  this  hated  Southern  Confederacy  on  the  south,  with  all  the 
power  and  hate  of  England  to  back  her,  we  are  ground  to  powder  between  the  upper 
and  nether  mill-stone. 

"  How  is  our  nationality  to  be  preserved?  By  every  man,  woman  and  child  con 
secrating  themselves  to  the  great  work  till  the  rebellion  is  suppressed.  This  is  a 
matter  that  cannot  be  settled  by  resolutions  or  meetings,  nor  ballots  ;  it's  got  beyond 
that ;  it's  bayonets  and  bullets  now.  War  has  hardly  touched  us  yet  in  the  great 
Northwest ;  it  has  not  yet  laid  upon  us  its  bloody  hand,  that  we  feel  its  withering, 
blighting  curse.  We  must  buy  and  sell  and  conduct  our  business  as  usual,  but  the 
one  grand  idea  must  ever  be  prominent — the  suppression  of  this  rebellion.  We  must 
make  this  war  the  great  business  of  our  lives  till  it  is  ended." 

HON.  J.  F.  FARNSWORTH. 

At  the  same  meeting  Hon.  J.  F.  Farnsworth,  at  that  time  com 
manding  the  gallant  8th  Illinois  Cavalry,  said : 

"  fellow  Citizens  : — This  call  is  unexpected.  I  have  but  just  arrived  here  and 
stepped  into  your  public  square,  interested  in  everything  which  has  reference  to  the 
struggle  in  which  we  are  engaged.  I  am  gratified  at  this  large  audience  and  the  en 
thusiasm,  not  only  here  but  all  over  the  country.  He  was  at  the  great  meeting  in 
Union  Square,  New  York.  He  was  satisfied  that  the  time  he  had  been  waiting  to 
see,  that  he  enlisted  for,  was  nigh  at  hand,  and  that  the  people  were  about  to  put  the 
axe  at  the  root  of  the  tree,  and  that  every  agency  which  the  Almighty  had  provided 
would  be  seized  upon  to  put  down  and  end  this  gigantic  rebellion.  Such  were  the 
sentiments  of  every  man  who  was  not  a  traitor  at  heart.  He  was  just  from  Jamos 
River.  He  knew  all  the  sufferings  of  the  army,  and  all  it  had  gone  through.  lie 
knew  nothing  in  the  wide  world  which  would  so  inspire  our  soldiers  as  to  know  that 
the  people  at  home  were  waking  up  and  taking  hold  of  this  war  as  the  rebels  are. 
We've  got  lessons  from  the  rebels  which  are  profitable  examples.  They  have  massed 
an  immense  army,  and  are  fighting  with  a  desperation  we  have  not  evinced.  Until 
we  have  the  same  spirit,  we  shall  not  conquer  them.  When  we  seize  all  agencies 
as  they  do,  we  shall  conquer,  and  that  right  speedily.  The  rebels  have  got  their 
last  large  army.  Every  man  has  been  compelled  to  take  arms  and  fight  in  the  front 
of  the  rebels.  When  we  do  this,  rebeldom  will  be  put  down.  The  people  of  the 
North  are  getting  over  their  tender-footed  conservatism  which  has  sacrificed  too 
many  lives,  dear  to  your  firesides.  My  friends,  there  is  at  this  moment  in  the  South- 


ARNOLD   AND   FARNSWORTH.  523 

ern  States  an  army  of  men  equal  to   our  entire  army  in  numbers,     They  are  our 
friends.     They  will  work  for  us,  and  fight  for  us,   if  you  will  but  say  the  word. 

[Cries:  "We  will."]  You  are  allowing  them  now  to  cultivate  corn  and  wheat  to 
feed  your  enemy.  You  are  letting  them  work  in  the  trenches  and  build  fortifica 
tions  against  you.  The  entire  element  is  ready — and  I  speak  from  my  knowledge — 
is  ready  to  act  and  work  and  fight  for  you.  A.  rebel  throat  is  none  too  good  to  be  cut 
by  a  black  man.  I  find  in  Virginia  that  the  only  reliable,  truthful  men  from  whom 
we  can  obtain  information  about  the  rebel  armies,  their  roads  and  their  scouts,  were 
in  the  poor  hovels  of  the  negro.  Using  all  the  skill  and  experience  I  have  had  as  a 
lawyer,  I  have  questioned  white  men,  and  when  I  had  done,  some  old  negro  too  old 
to  bear  arms  would  nod  to  me  to  meet  him  behind  the  barn,  and  would  tell  me 
'massa  lied,'  and  would  impart  to  me  information  which  subsequent  experience 
proved  true.  I  have  never  known  them  to  tell  an  untruth  to  me.  I  want  to  see  an  ex 
pression  go  forth  from  this  meeting,  lifting  up  the  hands  of  the  President  and  Cabi 
net  for  using  every  agency  we  can  lay  our  hands  upon.  The  voice  of  the  people  i& 
the  voice  of  God.  It  is  authoritative  with  statesmen  and  generals.  That  voice  I 
trust  will  be  heard.  I  hope  the  fruits  of  this  meeting  will  be  felt.  I  hope  it  will 
not  be  an  exodus  for  the  accumulated  gas  of  speeches.  Organize  your  companies  and 
train  them  at  home  for  any  emergency  which  may  occur.  I  want  to  see  the  wealthy 
merchants  who  own  these  large  buildings,  the  well-to  do  lawyers  and  thriving  phy 
sicians,  come  down  with  the  sinews  of  war  to  aid  the  men  who  are  fighting  the  bat 
tles  of  the  stay-at-homes.  I  see  before  me  at  least  two  regiments  of  men.  What 
are  you  doing  here?  You've  all  got  your  little  property  at  stake.  Put  your  names 
on  the  muster  roll. 

"As  I  may  not  have  another  opportunity  of  addressing  you,  and  may  not  meet  you 
for  a  long  time,  and  perhaps  never,  take  my  most  fervent  hopes  and  prayers  that  I 
may  meet  you  and  shake  hands  with  you  in  Richmond." 

HON.  ISAAC  N.  ARNOLD. 

And  at  the  same  meeting  Hon.  Isaac  N.  Arnold  said : 
"This  glorious  uprising  of  the  people  is  the  highest  example  of  the  moral  sub 
lime.  The  days  of  the  crusaders  have  returned.  Starting  from  the  nation's  capital, 
all  along  through  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Indiana,  you  see 
a  vast  uprising  of  the  people,  with  a  fixed,  stern  determination,  at  any  cost,  to  crush 
out  this  vast  rebellion.  But  it  is  in  the  Northwest,  and  in  this  great  city  of  the 
Northwest,  that  the  zeal  and  energy  of  patriotism  is  most  active  and  all-pervading. 
"  Illinois  is  meriting  for  herself  and  her  children  a  glorious  record.  She  had  won 
distinguished  honors  in  the  Mexican  war.  Bissell  and  Hardin  had  associated  their 
names  and  the  name  of  Illinois  with  Palo  Alto  and  Buena  Vista ;  but  in  this  far 
more  glorious  war,  in  which  the  faithful  fights  for  his  country  against  rebels  and 
traitors  far  more  cruel  and  barbarous  than  Mexican  guerrillas,  Illinois  covered  her 
self  with  glory.  The  bones  of  her  sons  lie  scattered  on  every  battle  field  in  the  val 
ley  of  the  Mississippi.  With  more  than  60,000  of  her  gallant  sons  in  the  field,  the 
President,  whom  Illinois  has  given  to  the  nation,  calls  for  troops. 


521-  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

"  Illinois  springs  to  the  rescue.  Her  commercial  capital  speaks  to-day  in  a  voice 
which  will  thrill  the  nation.  The  Northwest  is  ready.  As  a  citizen  of  this  city,  1 
claim  to-day  to  express  my  thanks  to  the  Board  of  Trade.  You  have  done  nobly, 
and  your  effjrts  will  tell  in  all  the  Northwest,  and  be  felt  throughout  the  loyal 
States,  and  I  doubt  not  also  the  gallant  soldiers  you  raise  will  be  felt  among  the  bar 
barians  in  arms  against  our  country. 

"Taere  is  nothing  to  discourage  us.  Our  armies  during  the  last  six  months  have 
achieved  great  success.  When  Congress  assembled  in  December  last,  the  c.ipitol 
was  besieged.  The  rebel  flag  was  visible  from  the  dome  of  the  capitol.  Rebel  guns 
could  be  heard  at  the  White  House  The  Potomac  was  blockaded.  The  Mississippi 
from  Cairo  to  the  Gulf  was  in  possession  of  the  traitors.  New  Orleans,  Norfolk, 
much  of  Missouri,  Kentucky,  and  all  of  Tennessee,  were  in  their  hands  Since  then 
Western  valor  has  cleared  the  Mississippi,  driven  the  enemy  out  of  Missouri,  a  great 
part  of  Arkansas,  and  Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  On  the  4th  of  July  the  old  flag — 
God  bless  and  preserve  it  forever — floated  in  every  State  in  the  Union. 

"  We  have  fought  and  won  the  great  battles  of  Henry  and  Donelson,  Pea  Ridge, 
Island  No.  10,  and  Shiloh.  Butler  now  holds  New  Orleans,  and  is  teaching  the  she 
traitors  of  the  Crescent  City  better  manners.  Norfolk  and  St.  Augustine  are  ours. 
We  have  annihilated  the  rebel  navy,  and  our  gun-boats  hold  undisputed  sway  over 
every  harbor,  and  river,  and  navigable  stream  in  the  enemy's  territory.  One  vigor 
ous,  active  campaign,  and  our  triumph  is  achieved. 

"  Eoery  great  war  has  underlying  it  a  great  idea.  What  is  the  great  idea  which  gives 
impulse  and  motive  power  to  this  war  ?  It  is  our  nationality.  The  grand  idea  of  a 
great  continental  republic,  ocean  bounded,  and  extending  from  the  lakes  to  the  Gulf, 
commanding  the  respect  of  the  world,  is  an  idea,  implanted  deeply  in  the  American 
heart,  and  it  is  one  for  which  every  American  patriot  will  fight,  and  if  necessary  (lie. 
Nowhere  is  this  sentiment  stronger  than  in  the  Northwest.  With  one  hand  we  claxp 
the  East,  and  with  the  other  the  Northwest  will  gripe  the  South,  and  we  will  hold 
this  Union  together  We  will  not  see  this  grand  ilepublic  split  up  into  contemptible 
Mexican  provinces — always  fighting  and  destroying  each  other.  Incident  to  this 
idea  of  Nationality  and  becoming  every  day  stronger,  is  another — that  this  grand 
Republic  must  be  all  free,  filled  with  one  great,  free  population. 

"  The  suicide  of  slavery  is  being  enacted  before  our  eyes.  Let  the  cursed,  bar 
barous,  traitor-breeding  institution  die.  The  slaveholder  has  himself  given  to  it 
the  mortal  wound  ;  let  no  timid  Northern  doughface  attempt  to  staunch  the  blood. 
The  end  of  slavery  will  prove  the  regeneration  of  tJie  nation. 

"  Liberal  bounty  is  offered  to  the  gallant  volunteer.  I  wish  to  state  a  fact  which 
may  not  be  generally  known.  The  Congress  just  adjourned,  provided  by  law  that  all 
our  foreign  born  soldiers  should  become  the  adopted  children  of  the  Republic;  he 
who  fights  for  the  flag  shall  be  immediately  a  citizpn.  We  could  not  do  less  for  the 
gallant  Germans,  the  countrymen  of  Sigel,  and  Osterhaus,  and  Willich.  For  the 
brave  Irishmen  who,  under  Meaglier,  and  Shields,  and  ulligan,  are  fighting  for  the 
old  flag.  To  every  Irishman,  I  would  say,  remember  Corcoran,  and  rally  to  his  rescue. 


lAST  INAUGURAL*  523 

"  Who  shall  pay  the  cost  of  this  war  ?  Lot  us  quarter  on  the  enemy,  confiscate 
the  property,  and  free  the  slaves  of  rebels." 

THE  LAST  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS. 

As  this  chapter  was  passing  through  the  press,  the  nation  was 
Startled  with  the  announcement  of  the  President's  assassination* 
The  sad  story  belongs  elsewhere.  But -in  view  of  it  the  people  cf 
Illinois  will  read  with  mournful  interest  the  last  utterances  of  Abra 
ham  Lincoln  before  he  was  struck  down  by  the  hand  of  the  assassin. 
Oil  the  4th  of  March,  1865,  in  the  presence  of  a  vast  concourse  of 
people,  he  delivered  his  second  inaugural  address  as  follows : 

"FELLOW-COUNTBYMEX:—  At  this  second  appearing  to  take  the  oath  of  the  presi 
dential  office,  there  is  less  occasion  for  an  extended  address  than  there  was  at  the 
first.  Then  a  statement,  somewhat  in  detail,  of  a  course  to  be  pursued,  seemed 
very  fitting  and  proper.  Now,  at  the  expiration  of  four  years,  during  which  public1 
declarations  have  been  constantly  called  forth  on  every  point  and  phase  of  the  great 
contest  which  still  absorbs  the  attention  and  engrosses  the  energies  of  the  nation, 
little  that  is  new  could  be  presented.  The  progress  of  our  arms,  upon  which  all 
else  chiefly  depends,  is  a?  well  known  to  the  public  as  to  myself,  and  it  is,  I  trust, 
reasonably  encouraging  to  all. 

"With  high  hope  for  the  future,  no  prediction  in  regard  to  it  is  ventured.  On 
Hie  occasion  corresponding  to  this,  four  years  ago,  all  thoughts  were  anxiously  di 
rected  to  an  impending  civil  war.  All  dreaded  it;  all  sought  to  avoid  it.  While 
the  Inaugural  Address  was  being  delivered  from  this  place,  devoted  altogether  to 
saving  the  Union  without  war,  insurgent  agents  were  in  the  city  seeking  to  destroy 
it,  without  war — seeking  to  dissolve  the  Union  and  divide  the  effects  bv  negotiation, 

"Both  parties  deprecated  war;  but  one  of  them  would  make  war  rather  than  let 
the  nation  survive,  and  the  other  would  accept  war  rather  than  let  it  perish ;  and  the 
war  came.  One-eighth  of  the  whole  population  were  colored  slaves,  not  distributed 
generally  over  the  Union,  but  localized  in  the  Southern  part  of  it.  These  slaves 
constituted  a  peculiar  and  powerful  interest.  All  knew  that  this  interest  was  some 
how  the  cause  of  the  war.  To  strengthen,  perpetuate  and  extend  this  interest,  was 
the  object  for  which  the  insurgents  would  rend  the  Union  bv  war,  while  the  Gov 
ernment  claimed  no  right  to  do  more  than  to  restrict  the  territorial  enlargement 
of  it. 

"Neither  party  expected  for  the  war  the  magnitude  or  the  duration  which  it  has 
already  attained.  Neither  anticipated  that  the  cause  of  the  conflict  might  cease 
even  before  the  conflict  itself  should  cease.  Each  looked  for  an  easier  triumph,  and 
a  result  less  fundamental  and  astounding  Both  read  the  same  Bible  and  pray  to 
the  same  God,  and  each  invoke  His  aid  against  the  other.  It  may  seem  strange  that 
any  man  should  dare  to  ask  a  just  God's  assistance  in  wringing  their  bread  from  the 
sweat  of  other  men's  faces. 


520  PATRIOTISM  OF 

"But  let  us  judge  not,  that  we  be  not  judged.  The  prayer  of  both  should  not  b£ 
answered — that  of  neither  has  been  answered  fully.  The  Almighty  has  his  own 
purposes.  '  Woe  unto  the  world  because  of  offenses,  for  it  must  needs  be  that 
offenses  come,  but  woe  to  that  man  by  whom  the  offense  cometh.'  If  we  shall  sup 
pose  that  American  slavery  is  one  of  the  offenses  that  in  the  providence  of  God 
must  needs  come,  but  which,  having  continued  through  His  appointed  time,  He  now 
60  wills  to  remove  that  He  gives  to  both  North  and  South  this  terrible  war  as  the 
woe  due  to  those  by  whom  the  offense  came,  shall  we  discern  that  there  is  any  de 
parture  from  those  divine  attributes  which  the  believers  in  a  living  God  always 
ascribe  to  Him?  Fondly  do  we  hope,  fervently  do  we  pray,  that  this  mighty 
scourge  of  war  may  speedily  pass  away;  yet,  if  God  wills  that  it  continue  until  all 
the  wealth  piled  by  the  bondman's  two  hundred  and  fifty  years  of  unrequited  toil 
shall  be  sunk,  and  until  every  drop  of  blood  drawn  with  the  lash  shall  be  paid  by 
another  drawn  with  the  sword,  as  was  said  three  thousand  years  ago,  so  still  it  must 
be  said  that  the  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  true  and  righteous  altogether. 

"With  malice  toward  none,  with  charity  for  all,  with  firmness  in  the  right,  as 
God  gives  us  to  see  the  right,  let  us  strive  on  to  finish  the  work  we  are  in,  to  bind 
\lp  the  nation's  wounds,  and  care  for  him  who  shall  have  borne  the  battle,  and  for 
his  widow  and  his  orphans — to  do  all  which  may  achieve  and  cherish  a  just  and  last 
ing  peace  among  ourselves  and  with  all  nations." 

THE  LAST  SPEECH. 

The  last  speech  which  President  Lincoln  eVer  made  in  public  was 
delivered  in  Washington,  on  the  llth  of  April,  1865,  after  his  return 
from  Richmond,  upon  the  vexed  question  of  reconstruction,  and  will 
forever  stand  as  a  monument  of  the  goodness  of  his  heart.  The 
President  said : 

"We  meet  this  evening  not  in  sorrow,  but  in  gladness  of  heart.  The  evacuation 
of  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  and  the  surrender  of  the  principal  insurgent  army, 
give  hopes  of  a  righteous  and  speedy  peace,  whose  joyous  expressions  cannot  be  re 
strained.  In  the  midst  of  this,  however,  He  from  whom  all  blessings  flow  must  not 
be  forgotton.  A  call  for  a  national  thanksgiving  is  being  prepared,  arid  Will  be  duly 
promulgated.  Nor  must  those  whose  harder  part  gives  us  the  cause  of  rejoicing,  be 
overlooked.  Their  honors  must  not  be  parceled  out  with  others.  I  myself  was  near 
the  front,  and  had  the  high  pleasure  of  transmitting  much  of  the  good  news  to  you. 
But  no  part  of  the  honor  for  plan  or  execution  is  mine.  To  Gen.  Grant,  his  skillful 
officers  and  brave  men,  all  belongs.  T'he  gallant  navy  stood  ready,  but  was  not  in 
reach  to  take  active  part.  By  these  recent  successes  the  re-inauguration  of  the  nai 
tional  authority — reconstruction,  which  has  had  a  large  share  of  thought  from  the 
first — is  pressed  much  more  closely  updn  our  attention.  It  is  fraught  with  great  dif" 
ficulty.  Unlike  a  war  between  independent  nations,  there  is  no  authorized  orgah  for 
tia  to  treat  with,  No  one  man  has  authority  td  give  up  the  rebellion  for  any  other 


PRESIDENT'S  LAST  SPEECH.  527 

man*  We  must  simply  begin  with  and  mold  from  disorganized  and  discordant  ele 
ments.  Nor  is  it  a  small  additional  embarrassment  that  we,  the  loyal  people,  differ 
among  ourselves  as  to  the  mode,  manner  and  measure  of  reconstruction.  As  a  gen 
eral  rule,  I  abstain  from  reading  the  reports  of  attacks  upon  myself,  wishing  not  to 
be  provoked,  by  that  to  which  I  cannot  properly  offer  an  answer.  In  spite  of  this 
precaution,  however,  it  comes  to  my  knowledge  that  I  am  much  censured  for  some 
supposed  agency  in  setting  up  and  seeking  to  sustain  the  new  State  Government  of 
Louisiana.  In  this  I  have  done  just  so  much  and  no  more  than  the  public  knows, 
In  the  annual  message  of  December,  1863,  and  the  accompanying  proclamation,  I 
presented  a  plan  of  reconstruction,  as  the  phrase  goes,  which  I  promised,  if  adopted 
by  any  State,  would  be  acceptable  to  and  sustained  by  the  Executive  Government  of 
the  nation.  I  distinctly  stated  that  this  was  not  the  only  plan  which  might,  possibly, 
be  acceptable ;  and  I  also  distinctly  protested  that  the  Executive  claimed  no  right 
to  say  when  or  whether  members  should  be  admitted  to  seats  in  Congress  from  such 
States.  This  plan  was  in  advance  submitted  to  the  then  cabinet,  and  approved  by 
every  member  of  it.  One  of  them  suggested  that  I  should  then  and  in  that  cornier 
tion  apply  the  Emancipation  Proclamation  to  the  theretofore  excepted  parts  of  Vir 
ginia  and  Louisiana,  that  I  should  drop  the  suggestion  about  apprenticeship  for  freed 
people,  and  that  I  should  omit  the  protest  against  my  own  power  in  regard  to  the  ad 
mission  of  members  of  Congress.  But  even  he  approved  every  part  and  parcel  of 
the  plan  which  has  since  been  employed  or  touched  by  the  action  of  Louisiana.  The 
new  constitution  of  Louisiana,  declaring  emancipation  for  the  whole  State,  practi* 
cally  applies  the  proclamation  to  the  part  previously  excepted.  It  does  not  adopt 
apprenticeship  for  freed  people,  and  is  silent,  as  it  could  not  well  be  otherwise,  about 
the  admission  of  members  to  Congress.  So  that  as  it  applied  to  Louisiana  every 
member  of  the  Cabinet  fully  approved  the  plan.  The  message  went  to  Congress,  and 
I  received  many  commendations  of  the  plan,  written  and  verbal,  and  not  a  single  ob 
jection  to  it,  from  any  professed  emancipationist,  came  to  my  knowledge  until  aftei4 
the  news  reached  Washington  that  the  people  of  Louisiana  had  begun  to  move  in  ac 
cordance  With  it.  From  about  July,  1862,  I  had  corresponded  with  different  persons 
supposed  to  be  interested  in  seeking  a  reconstruction  of  a  State  government  for 
Louisiana.  When  the  message  of  1863,  with  the  plan  before  mentioned,  reached 
New  Orleans,  Gen.  Banks  wrote  to  me  that  he  was  confident  that  the  people,  witli 
his  military  co-operation,  would  reconstruct  substantially  on  that  plan.  I  wrote  to 
him  and  some  of  them  to  try  it.  They  tried  it,  and  the  result  is  known.  Such  has 
been  my  only  agency  in  getting  up  the  Louisiana  government.  As  to  sustaining  it, 
my  promise  is  out,  as  before  stated.  But  as  bad  promises  are  better  broken  than 
kept,  I  shall  treat  this  as  a  bad  promise  and  break  it  whenever  I  shall  be  convinced 
that  keeping  it  is  adverse  to  the  public  interest,  but  I  have  not  yet  been  so  coil' 
vinced. 

"I  have  been  shown  a  letter  on  this  subject,  supposed  to  be  an  able  one,  in 
which  the  writer  expresses  regret  that  my  mind  has  not  seemed  to  be  definitely  fixed 
on  the  question,  whether  the  seceded  States,  so  called,  are  in  the  Union  or  out  of  it, 


528  i'At&ioTisM  OF  ILLINOIS 

It  would,  perhaps,  add  astonishment  to  his  regret,  were  he  to  learn  Unit  since  I  have 
found  professed  Union  men  endeavoring  to  answer  that  question  I  iuve  purposely 
forebore  any  public  expression  upon  it.  As  appears  to  me,  that  question  has  not 
been,  nor  yet  is  a  practically  material  one,  and  that  any  discussion  of  it  while  it  thu.« 
remains  practically  immaterial,  could  have  no  effect  other  than  the  m'schievous  one 
of  dividing  our  friends.  As  yet,  whatever  it  may  become,  that  question  is  had  a^ 
a  basis  of  a  controversy,  and  good  for  nothing  at  all — a  merely  pernicious  abstrac 
tion.  We  all  agree  that  the  seceded  States,  so  called,  are  out  of  the  r  proper  prac 
tical  relation  with  the  Union,  and  that  the  sole  object  of  the  government,  civil  and 
military,  in  regard  to  those  States,  is  to  again  get  them  into  their  proper  practical  re 
lation  I  believe  that  it  is  not  only  possible,  but,  in  fact,  easier  to  do  this  without 
deciding,  or  even  considering,  whether  those  States  have  ever  been  out  of  the  L'nion. 
than  with  it.  Finding  themselves  safely  at  home,  it  would  be  utterly  immaterial 
whether  they  had  been  abroad.  Let  us  all  join  in  doing  the  acts  necessary  to  restore 
the  proper  practical  relations  between  those  States  and  the  nation,  and  each  forever 
after  innocently  indulge  his  own  opinion  whether  in  doing  the  acts  he  brought  the 
States  from  without  into  the  Union,  or  only  gave  them  proper  assistance,  they  never 
having  been  out  of  it.  The  amount  of  constituency,  so  to  speak,  on  which  the  Lou 
isiana  government  rests,  would  be  more  satisfactory  to  all  if  it  contained  50,000,  or 
30,000,  or  even  20,000,  instead  of  12,000,  as  it  does.  It  is  also  unsatisfactory  to 
some  that  the  elective  franchise  is  not  given  to  the  colored  man.  I  would  myself 
prefer  that  it  were  now  conferred  on  the  very  intelligent,  and  on  those  who  serve  our 
cause  as  soldiers.  Still  the  question  is  not  whether  the  Louisiana  government,  as  it 
stands,  is  quite  all  that  is  desirable.  The  question  is,  will  it  be  wi.ser  to  take  it  as  it 
is,  and  help  to  improve  it,  or  to  reject  and  disperse  ?  Can  Louisiana  be  brought  into 
proper  practical  relation  with  the  Union  sooner  by  "sustaining  or  by  discarding  her 
new  State  government?  Some  twelve  thousand  voters  in  the  heretofore  slave  State 
of  Louisiana  have  sworn  allegiance  to  the  Union,  assumed  to  be  the  rightful  political 
power  of  the  State,  held  elections,  organized  a  State  government,  adopted  a  Free 
State  constitution,  giving  the  benefit  of  public  schools  equally  to  black  and  white. 
and  empowering  the  Legislature  to  confer  the  elective  franchise  upon  the  colored 
man.  This  Legislature  has  already  voted  to  ratify  the  constitutional  amendment  re 
cently  passed  by  Congress,  abolishing  slavery  throughout  the  nation.  These  twelve 
thousand  persons  are  thus  fully  committed  to  the  Union  and  to  perpetuate  freedom 
in  the  State  ;  committed  to  the  very  things,  and  nearly  all  things,  the  nation  wants} 
and  they  ask  the  nation's  recognition  and  its  assistance  to  make  good  this  committal, 
Now  if  we  reject  and  spurn  them  we  do  our  utmost  to  disorganize  and  disperse  them. 
We  in  fact  say  to  the  white  man,  you  are  worthless  or  worse ;  we  will  neither  help 
you,  nor  be  helped  by  you.  To  the  blacks,  we  say  :  This  cup  of  liberty  which  these. 
your  old  masters,  held  to  your  lips,  we  will  dash  from  you>  and  leave  you  to  the  chan 
ces  of  gathering  the  spilled  and  scattered  contents  in  some  vague  and  undefined 
when,  where  and  how.  If  this  course,  discouraging  and  paralyzing  both  white  and 
black,  has  any  tendency  to  bring  Louisiana  into  proper  practical  relations  with  the 
Union,  I  have  so  far  been  unable  to  perceive  it  If,  on  the  contrary  ^  we  recognise 


LAST    PKOCLAMATION.  529 

and  sustain  the  new  government  of  Louisiana,  the  converse  of  all  this  is  made  true. 
We  encourage  the  hearts  and  nerve  the  arms  of  12,000  to  adhere  to  their  work,  and 
argue  for  it,  and  proselyte  for  it,  and  fight  for  it,  and  feed  it,  and  grow  it,  and  ripen 
it  to  a  complete  success.  The  colored  man,  too,  in  seeing  all  united  for  him,  is  in 
spired  with  vigilance,  and  energy,  and  daring  to  the  same  end.  Grant  that  he  de 
sires  the  elective  franchise,  will  he  not  attain  it  sooner  by  saving  the  already  ad 
vanced  steps  toward  it,  than  by  running  backward  over  them  ?  Concede  that  the 
new  government  of  Louisiana  is  to  what  it  should  be  as  the  egg  is  to  the  fowl,  we  shall 
sooner  have  the  fowl  by  hatching  the  egg,  than  by  smashing  it.  [Laughter.]  Again, 
if  we  reject  Louisiana  we  also  reject  one  vote  in  favor  of  the  proposed  amendment 
to  the  national  constitution.  To  meet  this  proposition  it  has  been  argued  that  no 
more  than  three-fourths  of  those  States  which  have  not  attempted  secession  are 
necessary  to  validily  ratify  the  amendment.  I  do  not  commit  myself  against  thi,--, 
further  than  to  say  that  such  a  ratification  would  be  questionable,  and  sure  to  be  per 
sistently  questioned,  while  a  ratification  by  three-fourths  of  all  the  States  would  be 
unquestioned  and  unquestionable.  I  repeat  the  question.  Can  Louisiana  be  brought 
into  proper  practical  relation  with  the  Union  sooner  by  sustaining,  of  by  discarding 
her  new  State  Government  ?  What  has  been  said  of  Louisiana  will  apply  to  othc;,. 
States.  And  yet  so  great  peculiarities  pertain  to  each  State,  and  such  important . 
and  sudden  changes  occur  in  the  same  State,  and  withal  so  new  and  unprecedented 
is  the  whole  case,  that  no  exclusive  and  inflexible  plan  can  safely  be  prescribed  as  to 
detuils  and  collaterals.  Such  exclusive  and  inflexible  plan  would  surely  become  a 
new  entanglement.  Important  principles  may  and  must  be  inflexible.  In  the  pres 
ent  situation,  as  the  phrase  goes,  it  may  bemy  duty  to  moke  some  new  announcement  to 
the  people  of  the  South.  I  am  considering  and  shall  not  fail  to  act  when  satisfied  that 
action  will  be  proper." 

The  President,  during  the  delivery  of  the  above  speech,  was  fre 
quently  interrupted  by  applause,  and  on  its  conclusion,  in  the  midst 
of  the  cheering,  the  band  struck  up  a  patriotic  air,  when  he  bowed 
and  retired. 

THE  LAST  PROCLAMATION. 

The  last  Proclamation  issued  by  the  lamented  President,  was  one 
claiming  that  our  vessels  of  war  in  foreign  ports  should  no  longer  be 
subjected  to  restrictions,  but  should  have  the  same  rights  and  hospi 
talities  which  are  extended  to  foreign  vessels  of  war  in  the  ports  of 
the  United  States,  and  declaring  that  hereafter  the  cruisers  of  every 
nation  shall  receive  the  treatment  which  in  their  ports  they  accord  to 
ours.  The  Proclamation  reads  as  follows : 
'•'  By  tlie  President  of  the  United  States  of  America  : 

"  PROCLAMATION. 

"  WHEREAS,  For  some  time  past  vessels  of  war  of  the  United  States  have  been 
34 


530  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

refused  in  certain  ports  privileges  and  immunities  to  which  they  were  entitled  by 
treaty,  public  law,  or  the  comity  of  nations,  at  the  same  time  that  vessels  of  war  of 
the  country  wherein  the  said  privileges  and  immunities  have  been  withheld,  have 
enjoyed  them  fully  and  uninterruptedly  in  the  ports  of  the  United  States,  which  con 
dition  of  things  has  not  always  been  forcibly  resisted  by  the  United  States  ;  although, 
on  the  other  hand,  they  have  not  failed  to  protest  against  and  declare  their  dissatis 
faction  with  the  game.  In  the  view  of  the  United  States,  no  condition  any  longer 
exists  which  can  be  claimed  to  justify  the  denial  to  them  by  any  one  of  said  nations 
of  the  customary  naval  rights,  such  as  has  heretofore  been  so  unnecessarily  persisted 
in ;  now,  therefore,  I,  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN,  President  of  the  United  States,  do  hereby 
make  known  that,  if,  after  a  resonable  time  shall  have  elapsed  for  the  intelligence  of 
this  proclamation  to  have  reached  any  foreign  country  in  whose  ports  the  said  priv 
ileges  and  immunities  shall  have  been  refused,  as  aforesaid,  they  shall  continue  to  be 
so  refused;  then  and  thenceforth  the  same  privileges  and  immunities  shall  be  re 
fused  to  the  vessels  of  war  of  the  country  in  the  ports  of  the  United  States,  and 
this  refusal  shall  continue  until  the  war  vessels  of  the  United  States  shall  have  been 
placed  upon  an  entire  equality  in  the  foreign  ports  aforesaid  with  similar  vessels  of 
other  countries.  The  United  States,  whatever  claim  or  pretence  may  have  existed 
heretofore,  are  now  at  least  entitled  to  claim  and  concede  an  entire  and  friendly 
equality  of  rights  and  hospitalities  with  all  maritime  nations. 

"In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  caused  the  seal  of  the 
United  States  to  be  affixed.  Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  eleventh  day  of 
April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  sixty-five,  and  of  the 
independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  the  eighty-ninth. 

"By  the  President:  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"  WM.  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State." 

In  concluding  this  chapter,  there  is  a  letter  of  President  Lincoln's 
so  remarkable  for  embodying  the  principles  which  governed  his  ad 
ministration  that  it  is  here  inserted  entire.  It  shows  his  long  suffer 
ing  and  patience,  and  that  extreme  measures  with  slavery  were  em 
ployed  only  when  milder  ones  failed.  We  precede  and  accompany 
it  with  some  extracts  from  the  North  American  Review,  of  Janu 
ary,  1865: 

THE  KENTUCKY  LETTER. 

"  Unquestionably  there  is  matter  for  difference  in  respect  to  many 
of  the  acis  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  administration.  In  the  pressure  of 
events  of  a  character  utterly  novel,  and  involving  consequences  of 
the  utmost  importance,  with  the  need  frequently  of  prompt  decision 
and  immediate  action  upon  them,  mistakes  have  been  committed, 
and  errors  of  judgment  have  occurred,  such  as  were  inevitable  in  a 


NORTH    AMERICAN  REVIEW.  531 

season  of  such  stress  and  difficulty.  Still  further,  the  period  has 
been  o.ie  full  of  instruction  to  every  man  of  candid  and  intelligent 
mind.  The  whole  nation  has  been  at  school.  It  has  been  taught 
new  ideas  in  respect  to  duty  and  to  policy.  Old  ideas  have  been 
rudi-ly  sh  iken,  and  have  given  way  to  others  more  conformed  to  the 
necessities  and  changes  of  the  time.  A  policy  fit  for  1861  is  not  the 
policy  tor  18134.  Principles  do  not  change,  but  their  application  to 
events  is  continually  changing.  The  consistent  statesman  is  not  he 
who  never  alters  his  policy,  but  he  who,  adapting  his  policy  to  shill 
ing  exigencies,  is  true  always  to  the  fixed  north  star  of  duty  and  of 
principle.  Above  all,  in  a  period  of  social  convulsion,  a  true  and 
honorable  consistency  does  not  consist  in  adherence  to  the  details  of 
any  preconceived  plan  or  system,  but  in  the  ready  adjustment  of  its 
details  to  the  novel  demands  of  the  time  ;  and  it  is  this  consistency 
which,  in  our  opinion,  Mr.  Lincoln  has  eminently  displayed.  In  his 
Inaugural  Address,  he  said,  '  The  power  confided  to  me  will  be  used 
to  hold,  occupy,  and  possess  the  property  and  posts  belonging  to  the 
government,  and  to  collect  the  duties  and  imposts  ;  but  beyond  what 
may  be  necessary  for  these  objects,  there  will  be  no  invasion,  no  us 
ing  of  force  against  or  among  the  people  anywhere.'  But  he  r.lso 
said,  '  I  hold  that,  in  contemplation  of  universal  law  and  of  the  Con 
stitution,  the  union  of  these  States  is  perpetual.'  And  in  support  of 
this  fundamental  doctrine,  his  declaration  that '  there  will  be  no  using 
of  force  against  or  among  the  people  anywhere '  was  rightly  and 
consistently  disregarded,  and  the  tramp  of  the  soldier  in  every  se 
ceded  State  was  its  commentary. 

"On  no  subject  have  the  sentiments  of  the  Northern  people  under 
gone  a  more  entire  change,  since  1861,  than  on  the  question  of  the 
right  of  the  general  government  to  interfere  with  slavery  Not  o:ily 
is  their  view  of  the  relation  of  the  Constitution  to  slavery  essentially 
modified,  but  within  the  pmvers  with  which  the  Constitution  invested 
the  President,  has  been  found  the  arm  from  which  slavery  h  is  re 
ceived  its  death-blow.  The  idea  of  being  called  upon  to  use  this 
arm  had  never  crossed  the  mind  of  Mr.  Lincoln  up  to  the  time  of  his 
inauguration.  He,  in  common  with  the  mass  of  the  people  of  the 
North,  was  ready  then  to  guarantee  to  the  people  of  the  Soii'h  pror 
tection  for  slavery  within  its  existing  limits.  His  oath  as  President 


532  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

to  support  the  Constitution  was  interpreted  by  him  as  depriving  him 
of  all  lawful  right  to  interfere,  directly  or  indirectly,  with  the  insti 
tution  of  slavery  in  the  States  where  it  then  existed.  But  the  pro 
gress  of  events  taught  him,  as  it  taught  the  people,  that  slavery,  like 
every  other  partial  interest  or  relation,  was  subordinate  to  the  gen 
eral  interest ;  that  it  was  subject  to  the  Constitution ;  that  if,  to  pre 
serve  the  Union,  slavery  must  be  destroyed,  the  Constitution,  which 
formed  the  bond  of  the  Union,  could  not  be  pleaded  in  its  defence. 
His  course  on  the  matter  was  in  accordance  with  the  fundamental 
principles  of  his  political  creed.  Other  men,  no  doubt,  earlier  reached 
the  same  conclusions  at  which  he  arrived,  and  urged  upon  him  the 
adoption  of  the  policy  which  he  at  length  pursued.  But  on  them  the 
responsibility  of  decision  and  action  did  not  rest ;  and  Mr.  Lincoln's 
deep  sense  of  that  responsibility  caused  him  to  seem  to  reach  slowly 
the  point  to  which  more  eager  and  less  considerate  men  had  long  be 
fore  attained. 

"  Moreover,  in  Mr.  Lincoln's  position,  the  conflicting  interests  and 
the  contradictory  opinions  of  men  of  the  loyal,  and  especially  of  the 
Border  States,  have  made  it  a  task  of  extreme  difficulty  and  delicacy 
to  learn  the  true  sentiment  of  the  North.  To  unite  and  to  keep 
united  the  people  of  the  loyal  States  in  the  support  of  the  adminis 
tration,  so  far  as  such  union  was  possible,  was  Mr.  Lincoln's  arduous 
task.  On  this  union  depended  the  power  to  carry  on  the  war. 
Every  delay,  every  disaster  to  our  arms,  every  imcompetence,  every 
personal  disappointment  and  private  grief,  every  wounded  vanity, 
all  partizan  hates  and  jealousies,  every  danger,  in  fine,  against  which 
an  American  statesman  could  be  called  on  to  provide,  lay  in  his  path. 
He  could  not,  if  he  did  his  duty,  expect  either  wholly  to  please  his 
friends  or  to  win  his  enemies ;  he  could  not  force  compliance  with 
his  views,  or  insist  on  the  adoption  of  measures  which  he  might  es 
teem  desirable  or  essential.  His  character  was  not  fitted  to  secure  a 
strong  body  of  personal  supporters.  He  stood  comparatively  isolat 
ed  and  alone ;  and  his  duty  was  to  save  the  Union,  and  to  save  it 
with  its  institutions  sound  and  whole.  Popular  opinion  was  chang 
ing  and  developing  rapidly.  Mr.  Lincoln's  own  views  were  chang 
ing  and  advancing  with  it.  But  it  was  impossible  to  make  sure  of 
popular  opinion,  so  diverse  were  the  voices  of  the  people.  '  I  am 


THE  KENTUCKY  LETTER.  533 

approached,'  said  Mr.  Lincoln,  '  with  the  most  opposite  opinions  and 
advice,  and  that  by  religious  men,  who  are  equally  certain  that  they 
represent  the  Divine  will.  I  am  sure,'  he  added,  with  humorous 
irony,  '  that  either  one  or  the  other  class  is  mistaken  in  the  belief, 
and  perhaps  in  some  respect  both.'  The  elements  in  the  problem 
given  him  to  solve  were  of  the  most  complex  and  difficult  character. 
He  might  well  be  pardoned,  if,  doing  his  best,  he  had  failed.  But 
he  has  not  foiled.  Sagacious  beyond  most  men  in  his  estimate  of 
popular  opinion,  he  has  the  intuition  of  a  genuine  statesman  as  to 
the  manner  and  moment  of  its  use.  He  has  not  fallen  into  the  com 
mon  error  of^politicians,  of  mistaking  a  gust  of  enthusiasm  or  of 
passion  for  the  steady  wind  of  conviction,  or  of  fancying  a  thunder- 
squall  of  violence  to  be  a  black  storm  of  gathered  discontent.  He 
has  not  sought  to  control  events,  but  he  has  known  how  to  turn 
events,  among  the  most  important  of  which  are  to  be  reckoned  the 
moods  of  a  great  people  in  time  of  trial,  to  the  benefit  of  the  cause 
of  the  nation  and  of  mankind. 

"  In  regard  to  the  question  of  slavery  and  emancipation,  he  has, 
fortunately  for  the  country  and  for  history,  given  a  statement  of  the 
principles  and  motives  of  his  policy  in  a  brief  letter,  which  must 
take  rank  as  one  of  the  most  important  documents  in  the  remarka 
ble  series  of  state-papers  which  he  has  published  since  his  accession 
to  the  Presidency.  It  is  a  production  of  the  highest  interest,  not 
only  as  containing  the  authentic  record  of  his  opinions  and  his  action 
on  this  great  topic,  but  as  exhibiting  the  frankness,  candor,  integri 
ty,  and  sagacity  which  are  the  distinguishing  traits  of  his  personal 
character.  We  cite  this  letter  in  full,  because,  in  the  crowd  of  mat 
ters  of  public  concern,  it  has  not  received  the  attention  it  deserves 
as  an  exposition  of  the  President's  policy,  and  because  it  is  well 
fitted  to  inspire  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  its  author. 

"EXECUTIVE  MANSION,  WASHINGTON,  April  4,  1864. 

"A.  G.  HODGES,  ESQ.,  Frankfort,  Kentucky. 

"  MY  DEVK  SIR: — You  ask  me  to  put  in  writing  the  substance  of  what  I  verbally 
stated  the  other  day,  in  your  presence,  to  Governor  Bramlette  and  Senator  Dixon. 
It  was  about  as  follows : 

"'I  am  naturally  anti-slavery.  If  slavery  is  not  wrong,  nothing  is  wrong.  lean- 
not  remember  when  I  did  not  so  think  and  feel ;  and  yet  I  have  never  understood 
that  the  Presidency  conferred  upon  me  an  un-restricted  right  to  act  officially  upon 


534:  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

this  judgment  and  feeling.  It  was  in  the  oath  I  to:>k  that  I  wouM  to  the  best,  of'iny 
ability  preserve,  protect,  and  defend  the  Constitu.io  i  ;>f  the  Uut.ed  Stated.  I  could 
not  take  the  office  without  taking  the  oath.  N  >r  \v.is  it  ia  my  view  that  1  in  ght 
take  the  oath  to  get  power,  and  break  the  oath  in  ming  the  p>wer.  I  unJ.-r.Uood, 
too,  that  in  ordinary  civil  administration  this  oath  even  forbade  me  to  pra'jtica.ly  in 
dulge  my  primary  abstract  judgment  on  the  moral  qaest.on  of  slavery.  I  had  pub 
licly  declared  this  many  times  and  in  many  ways;  and  I  aver  th.ic,  to  th  s  d  iy,  I 
have  done  no  official  act  in  mere  deference  to  my  abstract  judgment  and  fjeli..g  on 
slavery.  I  did  understand,  however,  that  my  oath  to  preserve  the  Constitute. i  to 
the  best  of  my  ability  imposed  upon  me  the  duty  of  preserving,  by  every  indi  pen- 
sable  means,  that  government,  that  nation,  of  which  that  Constitution  was  Uic  or 
ganic  law.  Was  it  possible  to  lose  the  nation,  and  yet  preserve  the  Constitution? 
By  general  law,  life  and  limb  must  be  protected;  yet  often  a  limb  must  lie  amputat 
ed  to  save  a  life,  but  a  life  is  never  wisely  given  to  save  a  limb.  I  felt  that  meas 
ures,  otherwise  unconstitutional,  might  become  lawful  by  becoming  indispensable  to 
the  preservation  of  the  nation.  Right  or  wrong,  I  assumed  this  ground,  and  now 
avow  it.  I  could  not  feel  that  to  the  best  of  my  ability  I  had  even  tried  to  preserve 
the  Constitution,  if,  to  save  slavery,  or  any  minor  matter,  I  should  permit  the  wreck 
of  government,  country,  and  Constitution  altogether.  When,  early  in  the  war,  Gen. 
Fremont  attempted  military  emancipation,  I  forbade  it,  because  I  did  not  then  think 
it  an  indispensable  necessity.  When,  a  little  later,  General  Cameron,  then  Secre 
tary  of  War,  suggested  the  arming  of  the  blacks,  I  objected,  because  I  did  not 
yet  think  it  an  indispensable  necessity.  When,  still  later,  General  Hunter  attempt 
ed  military  emancipation,  I  forbade  it,  because  I  did  not  yet  think  the  indispensa 
ble  necessity  had  come.  When,  in  March  and  May  and  July,  1802,  I  made  earnest 
and  successive  appeals  to  the  Border  States  to  favor  compensated  emancipation,  I 
believed  the  indispensable  necessity  for  military  emancipation  and  arming  the  blacks 
would  come,  unless  averted  by  that  measure.  They  declined  the  proposition  ;  and  I 
was,  in  my  best  judgment,  driven  to  the  alternative  of  either  surrendering  the 
Union,  and  with  it  the  Constitution,  or  of  laying  strong  hand  upon  the  colored  ele 
ment.  I  chose  the  latter.  In  choosing  it,  I  hoped  for  greater  gain  than  loss ;  but 
of  this  I  was  not  entirely  confident.  More  than  a  year  of  trial  now  shows  no  loss 
by  it  in  our  foreign  relations,  none  in  our  home  popular  sentiment,  none  in  our  \vhite 
military  force, — no  loss  by  it  anyhow  or  anywhere.  On  the  contrary,  it  shows  again 
of  quite  a  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  soldiers,  seamen,  and  laborers.  The.-e  are 
palpable  facts,  about  which,  as  facts,  there  can  be  no  caviling.  We  have  men,  and 
we  could  not  have  had  them  without  the  measure. 

"  '  And  ncT  let  any  Union  man  who  complains  of  the  measure  test  himself  by  writ 
ing  down  in  one  line  that  he  is  for  subduing  the  rebellion  by  force  of  arms;  and  in 
the  next,  that  he  is  for  taking  three  [one?]  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  men  from 
the  Union  side,  and  placing  them  where  they  would  be  but  for  the  measure  he  con 
demns.  If  he  cannot  face  hia  case  so  stated,  it  is  only  because  he  cannot  face  the 
truth. 


THE   KENTUCKY    LETTER.  535 

" ( I  add  a  word  which  was  not  in  the  verbal  conversation.  In  telling  this  tale,  I 
attempt  no  compliment  to  my  own  sagacity.  I  claim  not  to  have  controlled  events, 
but  confess  plainly  that  events  have  controlled  me.  Now,  at  the  end  of  three  years' 
struggle,  the  nation's  condition  is  not  what  either  party  or  any  man  desired  or  ex 
pected.  God  alone  can  claim  it.  Whither  it  is  tending  seems  plain.  If  God  now 
wills  the  removal  of  a  great  wrong,  and  wills  also  that  we  of  the  North,  as  well  as 
you  of  the  South,  shall  pay  fairly  for  our  complicity  in  that  wrong,  impartial  historj 
will  find  therein  new  causes  to  attest  and  revere  the  justice  and  goodness  of  God. 

"'Yours,  truly, 

"'A.  LINCOLN." 

"This  excellent  letter,  in  giving  the  grounds  and  explaining  the 
motives  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  action,  affords  a  complete  vindication  from 
the  complaints  that  have  been  frequently  brought  against  him  by  the 
thoughtless  and  impatient,  by  the  men  of  ardent  temperament  and 
of  limited  views,  for  not  advancing  more  rapidly,  for  not  giving  more 
speedy  effect  to  a  supposed  popular  sentiment,  for  not  adopting  what 
is  called  a  more  decisive  policy,  for  being  content  not  to  lead  the 
people,  but  to  wait  for  their  progress.  These  men  have  desired  him 
to  anticipate  public  opinion,  and  in  doing  so  they  have  failed  to  con 
sider  how  slow,  even  in  times  like  these,  is  the  maturing  of  popular 
conviction,  and  how  liable  to  be  checked  by  over-hasty  action.  The 
vicissitudes  of  war  produce  a  frame  of  mind  in  which  the  feelings  of 
the  masses  of  men  are  likely  to  oversway  their  reason,  and  in  which, 
consequently,  there  is  a  constant  danger  of  the  rise  of  reactionary 
opinions  and  measures.  Political  action  based  on  the  %  feeling  of  a 
moment  is  liable  to  speedy  reversal.  A  policy  that  is  to  bj  lasting 
must  rest  on  solid  and  well-formed  convictions.  The  art  and  the 
duty  of  a  true  statesman  in  a  republic,  is  not  to  act  on  what  the  peo 
ple  ought  to  wish  and  to  think,  but  to  adopt  the  best  course  practi 
cable  in  accordance  with  what  they  actually  do  wish  and  think.  It 
is  not  to  attempt  to  exercise  a  despotic  leadership,  but  to  divine  and 
to  give  force  to  the  right  will  of  the  nation. 

"  Above  all,  in  such  circumstances  as  those  in  which  the  American 
nation  has  been  placed  by  the  rebellion,  it  is  of  infinite  importance 
that  it  should  learn  to  conduct  its  own  affairs,  trusting  to  no  one 
man  to  deliver  it  from  peril,  and  yielding  to  no  temptation  to  give 
up  its  own  power  into  the  hands  of  any,  even  the  wisest  dictator. 
A  Cromwell,  if  a  Cromwell  had  been  possible,  would  have  been  an 


536  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

unspeakable  calamity  to  the  nation  during  the  past  four  years.  A 
free  and  intelligent  people  have  no  place  for,  and  no  need  of,  a  Crom 
well.  It  must  be  its  own  ruler  and  its  own  leader.  This  war  has 
been  a  war  of  the  people  for  the  people  ;  and  in  order  to  reach  a 
successful  conclusion — the  only  conclusion  worthy  of  a  self-sustained 
and  self-governed  nation,  a  conclusion  which  should  be  a  final  set 
tlement  of  the  quarrel — it  must  be  fought  out  by  themselves.  They 
are  to  save  themselves,  not  to  look  to  any  man  for  their  salvation. 
The  nation  is  already  lost  when  it  seeks  relief  from  its  own  duties 
by  shifting  them  on  the  shoulders  of  a  leader.  And  in  this  view 
Abraham  Lincoln  has  well  fulfilled  the  duty  imposed  on  him,  not 
seeking  to  control  opinion  any  more  than  to  control  events,  but  seek 
ing  to  make  use  of  both  in  accordance  with  the  laws  by  which  they 
are  governed,  so  as  to  secure  the  working  out  of  the  great  problem 
of  national  salvation.  <  I  have  understood  well,-  said  he,  c  that  the 
duty  of  self  preservation  rests  solely  with  the  American' people.' ' 


OHAPTEE   XXXII. 

ILLINOIS  ON  THE  POTOMAC. 

CAMPAIGNS  OF  EAST  AND  WEST — VIRGINIA  THE  BATTLE-GROUND — ITS  NATURAL  DIVI- 
SIONs — CAMPAIGNS  OF  WESTERN  VIRGINIA — GENERAL  SCOTT — BULL  RUN — GENERAL 
MCCLELLAN — WAITING — "  ON  TO  RICHMOND" — YORKTOWN — BATTLES  OF  THE  CHICK- 

AHOMINY POPE McCLELLAN BURNSIDE FREDERICKSBURG "  No.  8  " HOOKER 

CHANCELLORSVILLE — LEE'S  STRATEGY — His  ADVANCE  ON  PENNSYLVANIA— NEW  CALL — 
LEE'S  ULTIMATE  ADVANCE — MEADE — ADVANCE  OF  His  ARMY — GETTYSBURG — BAT 
TLES — LOST  OPPORTUNITY — MORE  WAITING — LEE'S  ARMY  ESCAPES,  AND  GEN.  MEADE 
ESCAPES  THE  HIGHEST  HONOR — GETTYSBURG  AND  VICKSBURG — SHENANDOAH  VALLEY — 
THE  COAST — LIEUT. -GENERAL  GRANT — INTO  THE  WILDERNESS — ITS  BATTLES — BE 
FORE  PETERSBURG. 

UNTIL  since  the  battles  of  Franklin  and  Nashville,  few  Illinois 
troops  have  been  with  the  armies  of  Virginia.  Consequently 
in  such  a  work  as  this,  the  Eastern  campaigns  must  receive  much 
less  attention  than  Western,  where  Illinois  battle-flags  were  in  almost 
every  brigade,  and  Illinois  blood  made  sacred  every  battle-field.  Not 
meaning  to  make  this  a  history  of  the  war,  it  was  yet  impossible  to 
give  a  shadow  of  Illinois  patriotism  without  marching  with  the 
campaigns  of  the  West.  In  every  Western  conflict,  our  men  were 
there — there  in  the  dim  smoke  of  battle,  in  the  wild  charge — there 
for  the  desperate  charge  or  the  stern  resistance.  In  the  campaigns 
of  the  East  you  may  count  upon  your  fingers  all  the  Illinois  regi 
ments  or  squadrons  engaged,  and  that  before  you  have  counted  both 
hands. 

Virginia  has  been  the  great  Eastern  battle-field.  It  is  true  the 
sea-board  generally  has  been  contested  and  won.  In  Xorth  Caro 
lina  there  were  early  and  important  movements,  but  in  Virginia 
have  been  massed  the  grand  armies  of  the  contestants,  and  on  its 
"  sacred  soil "  has  blood  been  poured  out  as  water. 


538  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

The  old  dominion  is  divided  naturally  into  three  sections  :  The 
Eastern,  extending  from  salt-water  to  the  Bine  Ridge  ;  the  Mid  lie 
or  Valley,  lying  between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  AlK'ghaisiiy;,  and  the 
Western  reaching  from  the  Alleghanies  to  the  Ohio  Kiver.  The 
Middle  and  Western  had  their  own  grounds  of  quarrel  wi ;.!»  the 
Eastern,  and  there  were  bitter  strifes  to  be  intensified  by  civil  war. 

In  May,  1861,  Brigadier-General  George  B.  McClellan  was  as 
signed  to  the  department  of  the  Ohio,  including  Western  Virginia. 
With  him  were  Rosecrans,  Morris,  Reynolds,  Milroy  and  others  who 
have  won  distinction.  The  contest  really  opened  at  Philippi.  The 
engagements  of  Laurel  Hill,  Rich  Mountain,  and  Carrick's  Ford  fol 
lowed.  The  campaign  was  short  and  successful. 

Before  Washington  the  enemy  was  concentrating  in  threatening 
strength.  The  armory  and  public  store-houses  at  Harper's  Ferry 
were  burned  to  prevent  their  seizure ;  Massachusetts  and  Pennsyl 
vania  troops  were  fired  upon  in  Baltimore,  navy  yards  were  burned, 
and  all  this  time  General  Scott  was  busy  devising  grand  schemes 
for  great  campaigns.  He  projected  a  movement  of  three  columns 
on  Baltimore,  but  General  Butler  quietly  moved  on  the  Relay  House 
and  took  Baltimore  as  a  matter  of  course. 

July  21st  came  the  disaster  of  Bull  Run.  Patterson  suffered 
Johnson  to  escape  from  Winchester,  and  his  coming  turned  the  day 
almost  won  against  the  Federal  troops. 

On  the  25th,  General  McClellan,  (after  Mnjor-General,  U.  S.  A.) 
arrived  in  Washington  to  assume  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac.  He  gathered,  equipped  and  disciplined  one  of  the 
mightiest  armies  ever  led  by  a  commander.  In  materiel  none  had 
ever  equaled  it.  It  had  unbounded  confidence  in  the  loyalty,  skill 
and  courage  of  its  leader — ready  to  follow  him  anywhere.  The 
nation  believed  the  army  would  be  unconquerable  and  resistless.  It 
waited  for  it  to  move.  In  sight  of  that  magnificent  army  floated  the 
rebel  flag.  The  people  waited. 

It  is  no  purpose  of  this  work  to  enter  a  discussion  of  the  questions 
concerning  that  army,  or  to  arbitrate  those  which  have  arisen  con 
cerning  its  different  leaders.  After  waiting,  the  country  heard  that 
Manassas  was  evacuated,  but  the  enemy  was  gone.  With  rare  mag 
nanimity  he  left  his  wooden  guns ! 


CAMPAIGNS    OF   THE   POTOMAC.  539 

The  cry,  "Onto  Richmond!"  was  everywhere,  and  the  grand 
anny  moved  and  sat  down  before  Yorktown,  which  in  due  time  was 
also  evacuated,  and  another  bootless  victory  won.  Then  came 
Witliamsburg  and  West-Point.  Then  followed  the  terrible  battles 
of  the  Chickahorniny,  Fair  Oaks,  Mechanicsville,  Games'  Mills, 
I\at  h  Orchard,  and  Savage  Station,  White  Oak  Swamp  and  Glen- 
dale,  and  Malvern  Hill — names  never  to  be  forgotten,  forever  linked 
with  the  memories  of  May  31st  to  July  2,  1862.  They  were  hor 
rible  for  their  slaughter.  Never  army  fought  better  than  ours, 
and  victories  were  won,  but  the  commander  found  it  necessary  to 
command  retreat,  and  back,  still  back,  until  the  broken  remnants  of 
that  proud  army  were  at  Harrison's  Landing. 

Pope  took  command  of  the  Army  of  Virginia.  He  had  been 
crowned  with  glory  in  the  campaign  of  the  Mississippi,  and  had 
shown  himself  possessed  of  military  ability.  He  was  sacrificed  by 
jealousies  and  the  refusal  of  co-operation.  It  might  have  been 
different. 

Again  General  McClellan  wields  the  Marshals'  baton.  Lee 
crosses  the  mountains,  and  then  follow  the  battles  of  South  Moun 
tain,  Crampton's  Gap  and  Antietain.  At  the  latter  place,  as  at 
Malvern  Hill,  it  seemed  that  a  bold  onward  push  would  have  given 
us  the  army  of  Lee,  and  virtually  have  ended  the  war.  But  it  was 
not  so  to  be.  We  were  to  be  more  severely  disciplined  and  to  learn 
that  God  w;is  teaching  us  high  moral  duties  in  the  red  flames  of  war. 

With  Antietain,  closed  General  McClellan's  military  career.  It 
has  been  discussed  fully  by  his  admirers  and  opponents.  Virtually 
the  questions  at  issue  between  him  and  the  President  were  carried 
before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  popular  ballot,  on  the  8th  of 
November,  1864,  and  the  decision  was  given.  Let  the  contro 
versy  rest.  And  yet,  a  calm  examination  seems  to  show  the  lack  of 
that  deep,  stern,  terrible  earnestness  which  a  man  must  have  who 
would  successfully  wield  vast  masses  of  men. 

Next  came  Burnside.  He  had  won  eclat  at  Roanoake,  Eden, 
Plymouth,  and  Hatteras.  A  braver  General  and  a  more  successful 
corps  commander  had  rarely  worn  the  double  star.  He  was  modest 
and  distrustful  of  his  ability.  The  battle  of  Fredricksburg  came 
on.  It  was  the  old  story.  As  with  Pope,  so  with  Burnside.  The 


540  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

want  of  co-operation,  and  from  that,  disaster.  The  army  fell  back 
across  the  river.  Before  he  would  make  another  advance  the  Gen 
eral  issued  the  celebrated  "  Order  No.  eight,"  dismissing  from  the 
service,  subject  to  the  President's  approval,  several  officers  high  in 
rank,  and  ordering  others,  with  the  same  condition,  to  report  to  the 
Adjutant-General  of  the  United  States'  Army.  The  measure  was  a 
bold  one,  but  General  Burnside  knew  that  only  with  unity  could  he 
hopo  for  success.  He  erred  in  making  that  order  so  sweeping,  for 
it  included  some  who  may  have  used  unsoldierly  freedom  of  criti 
cism,  but  who  were,  nevertheless,  brave  and  loyal. 

That  order  was  forwarded  to  the  President,  with  General  Burn- 
side's  resignation  of  his  commission,  if  the  President  preferred  to 
accept  it.  After  mature  deliberation,  Mr.  Lincoln  decided  not  to 
approve  the  order,  but  to  relieve  him  of  his  command  and  appoint 
General  Hooker  as  his  successor.  General  Burnside  was  assigned 
to  the  department  of  the  Ohio. 

On  the  2 6 th  of  January,  1863,  General  Hooker  assumed  command. 
After  preliminary  movements,  the  battle  of  Chancellorsville  occurred 
last  of  April  and  early  in  May.  General  Hooker  claimed  the  cap 
ture  of  5,000  prisoners,  fifteen  colors,  seven  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
to  have  "  placed  hors  de  combat  18,000  of  Lee's  chosen  troops ;  des 
troyed  his  depots  filled  with  vast  amounts  of  stores ;  deranged  his 
communications  ;  captured  prisoners  within  the  fortifications  of  his 
capital  and  filled  his  country  with  fear  and  consternation.1'  On  the 
other  hand  General  Lee  called  for  a  day  of  special  thanksgiving  for 
the  "  glorious  victory  "  won  over  an  "  enemy  strongly  entrenched  in 
the  tangled  depths  of  a  wilderness." 

The  Secretary  of  War  took  a  sober  view  in  his  dispatches  to  the 
Governors.  He  conceded  the  failure  of  General  Hooker's  principal 
operations,  but  that  there  had  been  "no  serious  disaster  to  the 
organization  and  efficiency  of  the  army.  It  is  now  occupying  its 
former  position  on  the  liappahannock,  having  recrossecl  the  river 
without  any  loss  in  the  movement.  ISTot  more  than  one-third  of 
General  Hooker's  force  was  engaged.  General  Stoneman's  opera 
tions  have  been  a  brilliant  success.  Part  of  his  force  advanced  to 
within  two  miles  of  Richmond,  and  the  enemy's  communications 
have  been  cut  in  every  direction."  It  was  in  this  engagement  that 


TRIPPLE    DANGER.  5il 

the  ablest  field-marshal  of  the  Confederate  service,  General  "  Stone 
wall  "  Jackson — a  tower  of  strength  to  the  rebellion — fell. 

In  June,  General  Lee  moved  with  masterly  strategy.  He  concen 
trated  his  forces  for  a  decisive  campaign,  which  should  place 
at  his  mercy  either  Washington,  or  the  rich  towns  and  cities  of 
Pennsylvania.  At  the  same  time,  as  parts  of  one  grand  scheme,  the 
disaffected  population  of  New  York  was  to  rise  en  masse  •  Morgan 
was  to  cross  the  Ohio  and  pass  on  a  grand  raid  through  Indiana 
and  Ohio,  rallying  to  his  standard  the  peace-men  of  the  Northwest, 
while  secret  leagues  with  their  chief  officers  in  Canada  were  to 
order  their  uprising.  Loyal  Governors  were  to  be  assassinated ; 
camps  of  rebel  prisoners  were  to  be  opened,  Northern  cities  were  to 
be  given  to  the  flames.  Never  did  the  country  stand  in  graver  peril 
— never  was  it  nearer  signal  deliverance.  In  God's  good  Provi 
dence  eaeh  of  these  schemes  was  to  be  baffled. 

General  Ewell  with  the  divisions  of  Johnson  and  Early  moved  up 
the  Shenandoah  valley  through  Snicker's  Gap,  and  overwhelmed 
the  force  of  General  Milroy  at  Winchester,  compelling  hi  in  to  retreat 
with  much  loss  to  Harper's  Ferry.  The  capture  of  Martinsburg 
followed,  and  on  to  Chambersburg,  McConnelsville,  &c. 

It  was  now  evident  that  grave  perils  were  upon  our  cause.  The 
President  issued  a  proclamation  on  the  15th  of  June,  calling  for  one 
hundred  thousand  six-months'  militia  from  the  States  of  Maryland, 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Western  Virginia.  The  Governors  issued 
earnest  ealls,  and  troops  poured  in  for  the  defense  of  Northern  soil 
and  the  nation's  capital. 

General  Hooker  hurried  forward  the  forces  under  his  command, 
his  first  care  being  Washington,  and  his  rapid  movements  left  Lee  at 
the  choice  between  attacking  him  in  the  strong  defences  of  that  city, 
to  fall  back,  or  move  into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  He  held 
Winchester,  and  Ewell  was  in  Pennsylvania,  but  could  not  draw 
Hooker  from  Virginia.  The  fords  of  the  Potomac  between  Harper's 
Ferry  and  Williamsport  were  seized.  On  the  21st  of  June,  Lee 
issued  his  orders  regulating  the  troops  on  the  march.  Correspon 
dence  of  an  important  character  was  intercepted  by  General  Hooker, 
disclosing  the  plan  of  the  enemy.  Swell's  corps,  the  rebel  advance, 
passed  from  Williamsport  to  Hagerstown,  on  the  22d  entered  Green- 


54:2  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS 

castle,  Pennsylvania,  and  on  the  23d  Chambersburg  was  re-occupied 
by  his  force. 

General  Lee  crossed  into  Maryland  on  the  24th.  At  the  same  time 
his  main  army  crossed  the  lords  at  Shepherdstown  and  Williams- 
port.  The  movement  continued  up  the  Cumberland  Valley,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Catoctin  Mountains!,  the  advance  moving  i  i  two 
columns ;  one  by  way  of  the  Harrisburg  and  Chambersburg  R  lil- 
road  toward  Harrisburg,  and  the  other  from  Gettysburg  eastward  '.o 
the  Northern  Central  Railroad,  counesting  B  Uiinore  an  i  ILi :*m- 
burg,  and  thence  extending  to  York  an  1  Lun.iste:-.  O.i  tlu  27f.h 
Carlisle  was  occupied,  and  the  same  day  the  rebel  cavalry  was  within 
four  miles  of  Harrisburg,  the  capital  of  the  gr  j  it  State  of  P-jn:nyl- 
vania.  On  the  27th  General  Lee  issue  1  o:\lers  fro:n  the  u  Hold- 
quarters  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  Caa  nbersbarg,  Pena."  Tiie 
rebel  army  was  then  distributed  as  follows:  Th 3  main  body,  with 
the  corps  of  Longstreet  and  Hill,  were  at  or  near  Chunbersburg; 
the  divi  ions  of  Rliodes  and  Johnson,  Early's  co:-p=s,  were  in  the  vi 
cinity  of  Carli  le  and  Harrisburg,  while  Eirly's  own  division  wiih 
Gordon's  brigade,  was  at  York — Harrisburg,  Philadelphia,  and  then 
on  to  New  York  ! 

It  was  not  so  written.  No  Union  capit  \\  or  principal  city  was  to 
be  occupied  by  the  rebel  army!  In  the  mi  hi  of  disloyal  exultari  :n, 
the  "  dream  of  the  barley-cake"  f_>!l  upon  their  leaders,  and  on  the 
28th  orders  were  issued  for  both  lines  to  f  .11  back  on  Gettysburg. 
The  army  of  the  Union  had  crowed  the  Potomic,  and  its  head  was 
at  South  Mountain.  Lee  must  protect  his  threatened  communica 
tions,  must  a  sumo  the  defensive. 

O;i  the  22d  the  Union  army  occupied  the  line  of  the  Potom.ac  on 
the  Virgin!  i  side  of  the  river,  extending  beyond  Leesburg,  and  held 
all  the  gaps  of  the  Bull  Run  range.  Saturday,  the  27th,  it  was  at 
Frederick,  Md.  That  day  the  order  came  rel'eving  II  >oker,  and 
transferring  the  command  to  Major-General  Meade.  II  ><>ker,  too, 
found  the  demon  of  in-co-operation  too  hard  for  him,  and  desired  to 
be  relieved.  The  change  took  the  army,  as  it  did  the  country,  by 
surprise.  A  forward  movement  was  ordered  by  the  new  conim  tnrl- 
er.  The  sixth  and  eleventh  corps,  which  were  at  Middletown,  in  the 
valley  between  the  Catoctin  and  the  Blue  Ridge,  were  moved  east 


GETTYSBURG.  543 

to  Frederick,  then  up  the  Monocacy  Valley  through  Mechanicsburg 
and  Kmmi>b:irg  toward  Gettysburg.  The  second  and  fifeh  corps 
crossed  the  Monocacy  east  of  Frederick,  and  inarched  northeast 
through  Uiii*m  to  Frizelburg,  near  the  State  line.  The  sixth  moved 
to  Westminster.  The  routes  were  so  selected  that  Washington  and 
Baltimore  could  be  covered.  Harper's  Ferry  was  ordered  to  be 
evacuated,  under  the  impression  that  it  was  without  provisions,  but 
the  order  was  recalled.  On  the  30th  General  Meade  changed  the 
I'm:1  of  march  of  all  his  corps  except  the  first  and  eleventh,  toward 
Gettysburg.  Those  ahvady  were  moving  thither. 

Oil  the  morni.i<r  of  July  1st  the  armies  joined  battle,  and  the  brave 
Major  General  Reynolds  fell.  Through  the  d  :y  the  conflict  raged, 
and  night  came  on  with  results  not  favorable  to  our  cause,  for  only 
our  advance  was  brought  into  action.  Thursd  ly  afternoon  there 
was  another  desperate  struggle,  which  closed  without  decisive  re 
sults.  On  Friday,  the  3d,  the  storm  of  battle  was  almost  without 
precedent.  The  massed  artillery  of  the  enemy  was  directed  against 
the  left  center  of  General  Meade,  and  continue  1  three  hours.  Twice 
the  enemy  rushed  forward  with  desperate  f  iry,  charging  up  to 
our  <runs  only  to  be  broken  and  thrown  back  with  fearful  slaughter, 
the  dead  and  wounded  lying  in  windrows. 

The  Battles  of  Gettysburg  were  ended,  and  the  defeated  army  of 
Lee  beg.-n  its  retreat.  Congratulations  danced  along  the  wires. 
General  Meade  was  the  hero  of  the  hour. 

That  same  "Fourth,"  the  stronghold  of  the  Mississippi  was  sur 
rendered,  to  b e  followed  by  the  surrender  of  Port  Hudson,  thus 
opening  the  Great  River.  And  so  Vicksburg  and  Gettysburg  shouted 
their  glad  triumph  across  the  mountains,  the  plains  and  the  rivers! 
The  national  heart  grew  strong;  the  national  faith  took  new  life. 
Henceforward  the  Fourth  of  July  was  to  have  a  new  and  grander 
meaning  than  ever. 

The  country  expected  confidently  to  hear  of  the  capture  of  Lee 
and  his  whole  army.  The  Potomac  was  behind  him,  and,  as  if  to 
render  his  escap"  impossible,  heavy  rains  swdled  it  to  flood-tide. 
Not  more  manifestly  fought  the  stars  in  their  courses  against  Sisera 
than  fought  the  elements  against  Lee,  and  Providence  seemed  to 
have  given  him  into  our  hands.  But  there  was  delay  in  pursuit, 


544  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

halting,  and  "caution."  On  the  14th  eame  the  word  from  General 
Meade  himself,  "  the  enemy  are  all  across  the  Potomac."  The  war, 
which  seemed  so  near  its  completion,  was  to  be  indefinitely  extended, 
and  General  Meade  missed  the  glory  which  seemed  his  inevitably. 

It  was  a  well-fought  series  of  battles  at  Gettysburg,  and  should  be 
wisely  estimated ;  there  were  bravery  and  skill,  but  again  a  victori 
ous  army  was  halted  within  sight  of  grand  results. 

The  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  until  the  later  days  of  Grant  and 
Sheridan,  was  our  valley  of  Hinnom.  Banks,  Hunter,  Fremont,  Mil- 
roy,  Sigel,  all  failed  to  clear  it  of  the  foe,  and  there  we  seemed  des 
tined  to  defeat.  Yet  some  of  the  most  brilliant  heroism  was  displayed, 
and  by  none  more  than  by  Illinois  troops  which  chanced  to  be  there. 
In  the  operations  on  the  coast  of  North  Carolina  and  before  Charles 
ton,  Illinois  had  so  few  men  engaged  as  to  not  warrant  extended  no 
tice.  The  39th  was  with  General  Gilmore  in  the  early  stages  of  the 
siege  of  Charleston  and  distinguished  itself  by  gallantry  in  an 
assault,  which  will  be  hereafter  noticed. 

On  the  1st  of  March,  1864,  the  President  gave  his  signature  to  the 
bill  establishing  the  grade  of  Lieutenant- General,  and,  as  Congress, 
the  people  and  the  army  expected,  nominated  to  receive  it,  Major- 
General  U.  S.  Grant,  the  hero  of  Vicksburg  and  Mission  Ridge,  and 
on  the  8th  the  commission  was  handed  to  the  former  Colonel  of  the 
"  21st  Regiment  Illinois  Infantry,"  by  the  President  in  person,  in 
presence  of  the  Cabinet,  and  he  became  commander  of  the  armies 
of  the  United  States.  He  framed  a  vast  and  comprehensive  plan, 
the  outworking  of  which  we  begin  to  see.  It  included  the  move 
ments  of  Sherman  through  the  Confederacy,  of  Thomas  before  Nash 
ville,  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah,  and  Meade  upon  Petersburg  and 
Richmond.  The  army  of  Lee  was  to  be  broken  or  driven  within  the 
defenses  of  Richmond,  and  held  there,  while  Sherman,  Thomas  and 
Sheridan  should  operate  elsewhere,  and  then,  like  the  iron-chamber 
of  the  inquisition,  the  walls  of  steel 'should  close  in  upon  Lee's  army 
on  every  side.  On  the  17th  he  formally  assumed  command.  Tlic> 
fears  freely  expressed  that  he  would  be  buried  in  "Washington,  and 
possibly  come  to  manage  the  armies  after  the  fashion  of  his  prede 
cessors,  was  relieved  by  the  announcement  that  his  "  headquarters 
would  be  in  the  field  " — where  they  remain. 


THE    WILDERNESS.  545 

The  army  of  the  Potomac  had  been  concentrated  in  great  strength 
at  Culpepper,  while  that  of  Lee  was  at  Orange  Court  House.  Grant's 
army,  under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Meade,  moved, 
with  six  days'  rations,  on  the  3d  of  May,  1864,  and  crossed  the  Rapi- 
dan  on  pontoon  bridges  at  Germania  and  Ely's  fords.  It  approached 
the  Wilderness  without  opposition,  avoiding  the  heavy  works  at 
Mine  Run.  The  5th  corps  was  commanded  by  Warren  ;  the  6th  by 
the  brave  and  accomplished  Sedgwick  ;  the  2d  by  Hancock,  and  the 
Oth  by  Buruside,  as  reserve,  holding  the  north  bank. 

On  the  5th  the  armies  met  in  the  tangled  brush  and  undergrowth 
of  that  Spottsylvania  Wilderness,  and  joined  battle.  There  was 
obstinate  bravery  on  both  sides.  Lee  adopted  his  tactics  of  mass 
ing  his  forces  and  inflicted  great  loss  upon  us.  Subsequently  our 
forces  inflicted  severe  punishment  upon  his  columns.  The  loss  of 
the  two  armies  in  that  day's  fighting  is  estimated  at  more  than  12,000 
men.  It  was  no  artillery  duel,  for  the  undergrowth  was  too  dense 
for  its  use,  but  the  stern  hand-to-hand  fighting  of  infantry  and  cav 
alry.  No  decisive  results  were  reached,  but  General  Grant  selected 
a  more  advantageous  position. 

On  the  6tli  Lee's  army  began  the  melee.     His  force  was  thrown 
now  against  one  wing  and  now  another,  and  the  loss  of  Shaler's  and* 
Seymour's  brigades  periled  our  right.     The  gallantry  of  Sedgwick 
saved  the  day  for  us. 

The  next  day  our  guns  were  in  position  and  all  ready  for  battle, . 
but  Lee  was  moving  southward  to  interpose  between  Grant  and 
Richmond  at  some  other  point.  The  army  of  the  Union  advanced 
to  Spottsylvania  Court  House  where  the  enemy  was  strongly  in 
trenched.  A  cavalry  fight  for  certain  points  along  the  line  of  march 
cost  us  300  men. 

On  the  9th  General  Sedgwick,  himself  equal  to  a  division,  was 
killed  by  a  sharpshooter.  Generals  Hays  and  Wadsworth  had  pre 
viously  fallen.  On  the  10th  the  fighting  was  of  the  most  desperate 
and  sanguinary  character.  The  line  of  battle  was  six  miles,  and  for 
this  length  our  brave  men  stood  before  the  breastworks  of  the  enemy. 
The  corps  of  Burnside,  Hancock,  Warren  and  Wright  were  all  en 
gaged,  and  for  the  first  time  in  thQ  battles  of  the  Wilderness  our 
artillery  came  into  deadly  play.  The  carnage  was  frightful.  It  is 

35 


54:6  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

said  we  lost  4,000  men  killed,  and  that  8,000  wounded  were  left  on 
the  field !  Generals  Stevenson  and  Rice  fell.  There  was  constant 
skirmishing.  On  the  llth  Sheridan  made  his  great  raid,  in  which 
General  J.  E.  B.  Stuart,  one  of  the  most  efficient  rebel  cavalry  officers, 
was  killed.  Up  to  this  date  we  had  captured  some  5,000  prisoners. 
The  12th  witnessed  fifteen  hours'  terrible  strife.  Hancock  threw  his 
corps  upon  the  rebel  entrenchments  and  captured  a  division  of  3,000. 
Thirty  rebel  guns  were  also  captured.  Five  times  did  the  forces  of 
Lee,  with  bravery  and  audacity  unsurpassed,  attempt  the  re-capture 
of  their  works,  but  they  beat  hopelessly  against  the  granite  corps  of 
Burnside  and  Warren.  At  another  point  our  troops  put  forth  most 
heroic  courage  and  desperate  daring  in  an  unsuccessful  effort  to 
carry  the  rebel  entrenchments.  The  Union  loss  of  this  day  is  esti 
mated  by  some  at  11,000.  Four  thousand  prisoners  were  captured. 
Through  that  night  was  the  incessant  roar  of  artillery. 

It  became  evident  to  the  enemy  that  they  were  dealing  with  such 
persistence  and  dogged  resolution,  and  with  such  masterly  com 
binations  as  they  had  not  before  met  on  the  Potomac.  They 
claimed  victory  but  had  found  themselves  compelled  to  fall  back  be 
fore  a  beaten  foe  who  steadily  followed  them.  The  "  Colonel  of  the 
21st  Illinois"  meant  war,  and  knew  how  to  wage  it.  There  was 
constant  skirmishing  for  some  days,  but  no  general  engagement. 

On  the  night  of  the  21st  Grant  moved  his  forces  quietly  south 
ward,  on  toward  Richmond,  and  it  became  a  question  who  should 
sooner  reach  it,  he  or  Lee  !  "  Grant  is  in  full  retreat"  was  the  rebel 
news,  but  strange  to  say  it  was  by  a  flank  movement  directly 
toward  the  rebel  capital !  The  defences  at  the  North  Anna  were 
stormed  on  the  23d,  and  on  the  next  day  our  army  crossed  that  river, 
having  to  fight  their  way  at  every  ford.  At  the  South  Anna  the 
enemy  had  constructed  defences  almost  impregnable. 

Another  flank  movement  threw  our  forces  across  the  Paraunkey, 
and  it  was  apparent  that  the  Federal  leader  was  maneuvering  to 
approach  Richmond  from  the  North.  There  was  constant  fighting 
in  some  direction.  On  the  1st  of  June  there  was  a  desperate  engage 
ment  at  Cold  Water.  On  the  3d  was  fought  a  desperate  battle  at 
'Cold  Harbor,  where  our  loss  was  nearly  6,000. 

Theiline  of  the  Chickahominy  was  abandoned,  and  the  Federal 


PETERSBURG.  54:7 

array  led  to  the  south  side  of  the  James,  and  on  the  16th  operations 
were  commenced  before  Petersburg.  It  may  be  conceded  that  Gen 
eral  Grant  did  not  in  the  campaign  of  the  Wilderness  accomplish  all 
he  wished,  for  he  did  not  destroy  the  army  of  Lee.  But  it  was 
shown  that  ours  could  march  from  Washington  to  the  defences  of 
Richmond  in  spite  of  it,  clearing  the  way  with  ball  and  bayonet  and 
breaking  both  the  power  and  prestige  of  the  grand  army  of  the 
Confederacy. 

The  events  of  the  siege  can  be  adverted  too  only  incidentally  in 
the  present  volume.  The  iron-hand  closed  upon  that  great  army 
compelling  it  to  remain  inactive,  while  in  other  directions  the  armies 
of  the  Republic  were  winning  glorious  victories.  Sherman  had 
occupied  Savannah,  Charleston  and  Columbia.  Wilmington  had 
fallen,  and  the  coast  was  sealed  to  the  importation  of  supplies. 
Sheridan  had  swept  the  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  repeatedly  defeat 
ing  Early,  capturing  large  numbers  of  cannon  and  prisoners,  and 
cutting  railway  and  canal  at  his  pleasure.  All  looked  well,  and  in 
calm  trust  the  people  were  content  to  wait,  for  waiting  had  come 
to  mean  victory  instead  of  defeat. 


OHAPTEE    XXXIII. 

THE  POTOMAC— CAMPAIGN  AND  REGIMENTAL. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  HUNTER — THEN  AND  Now — THE  STH  CAVALRY — GENERAL  FAUNS' 
WORTH — GENERAL  GAMBLE — COL.  CLENDENIN — GENERAL  BEVERIDGE — MAJOR  ME- 
DILL — THE  CHAPLAINS — THE  12th  CAVALRY — COL.  Voss — COL.  DAVIS — BARKER'S 
DRAGOONS — THE  23o  INFANTRY — GENERAL  MULLIGAN — THE  39TH  INFANTRY — COL. 
OSBORN — LIEUT. -COLONEL  MANN — THE  STURGIS  RIFLES. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  DAVID  HUNTER  has  been  conspicu 
ous  in  the  earlier  campaigns  of  our  army.  His  birth-place  was 
the  District  of  Columbia.  In  1822  he  graduated  at  West  Point,  and 
was  appointed  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  infantry,  his  commission 
dating  July  1,  1822.  He  was  then  twenty  years  of  age.  He  early 
became  identified  with  Illinois,  being  placed  in  command  of  Fort 
Dearborn,  Chicago,  in  1830,  where  he  remained  about  one  year, 
marrying,  meanwhile,  Miss  Kinzie,  "daughter  of  the  first  permanent 
resident  of  the  city."  He  was  regularly  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  of 
Dragoons,  and  in  1832  was  made  Captain  of  Dragoons,  and  twice 
crossed  the  plains  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  In  1836  he  resigned 
his  commission  and  entered  business.  In  1842  he  re-entered  the  army 
as  paymaster  with  the  rank  of  Major,  which  he  held  when  the  war 
began.  He  was  made  Colonel  of  the  3d  Regiment  IT.  S.  Cavalry,  and 
came  prominently  into  notice  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Rnn.  He  was 
placed  in  command  in  the  2d  division,  and  while  leading  his  com 
mand  was,  early  in  the  action,  severely  wounded.  On  the  13th  of 
August,  1861,  he  was  commissioned  Major-General  of  volunteers, 
and  in  November  following  superseded  General  Fremont  in  command 
of  the  Department  of  Missouri.  His  failure  to  push  Price  to  the 
wall  on  assuming  command,  has  subjected  him  to  criticism.  Subse 
quently,  General  Hunter  commanded  the  Department  of  Kansas 


GENERAL    HUNTER.  549 

with  headquarters  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  General  Halleck  sent  him 
the  following  dispatch  recognizing  his  services  at  an  hour  of  need. 
"  To  you,  more  than  any  other  man  out  of  this  department,  are  we 
indebted  for  our  success  at  Fort  Donelson.  In  my  strait  for  troops 
to  reinforce  General  Grant,  I  applied  to  you.  You  responded  nobly 
placing  your  forces  at  my  disposal.  This  enabled  us  to  win  the  vic 
tory.  Accept  my  hearty  thanks." 

In  March,  1862,  he  took  command  of  the  Department  of  the 
South,  comprising  South  Carolina,  Georgia  and  Florida,  with  head 
quarters  at  Hilton  Head.  The  problem  of  slavery  and  the  war  had 
been  early  forced  upon  his  attention.  He  was  born  amid  slavery, 
and  was  of  the  stock  of  Virginia  Hunters,  and  had  been  educated 
in  all  the  conservative  teachings  of  West  Point,  yet  he  soon  saw 
that  the  way  to  peace  was  over  the  grave  of  slavery,  and  that 
never  could  the  country  receive  the  olive  branch  except  from  the 
hands  of  Victory  and  Freedom.  Undeterred  by  the  experience  of 
his  predecessor  in  Missouri,  on  the  9th  of  May,  1862,  General  Hunter 
issued  a  proclamation  declaring  free  all  the  slaves  of  rebels  within 
his  department.  The  President,  reserving  to  himself  the  right  to 
determine  the  time  for  such  a  measure  and  the  responsibility  of 
taking  it,  revoked  the  order  on  the  19th  of  the  same  month. 

A  portion  of  General  Hunter's  troops  met  a  severe  check  at  the 
battle  of  James  Island,  where  General  Benham  made  an  attack,  in 
disobedience  of  orders  from  his  superior. 

General  Hunter  saw  very  soon  that  men  of  color  should  not  only 
be  made  free  by  military  authority,  but  also  enlisted,  uniformed, 
armed  and  permitted  to  stand  as  soldiers  of  the  Union,  and  so  be 
lieving  he  organized  negro  regiments  in  his  department.  For  this 
he  and  General  Phillips  were  outlawed.  As  the  General-in-Chief  of 
the  Confederate  armies  has  recommended  the  arming  of  slaves,  the 
Legislature  of  proud  Old  Virginia  has  ordered  her  Senators  to  vote 
for  such  a  law,  and  the  rebel  Congress  has  enacted  it.  The  order  of 
outlawery  is  here  produced  as  an  ancient  landmark  of  the  earlier 
and  more  knightly  days  of  the  "New  Nation." 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT  AND  INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S  OFFICE,) 

RICHMOND,  August  21,  1862.     J 
"  General  Orders,  No.  60. 

"  Whereas,  Major-General  Hunter,  recently  in  command  of  the  enemy's  forces  on 


550  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

the  coast  of  South  Carolina,  and  Brigadier-General  Phillips,  a  military  commander 
of  the  enemy  in  the  State  of  Louisiana,  have  organized  negro  slaves  for  military 
service  against  their  masters,  citizens  of  this  Confederacy : 

"And,  Whereas,  The  Government  of  the  United  States  has  refused  to  answer  an 
inquiry  whether  said  conduct  of  its  officers  meets  its  sanction,  and  has  thus  left  to 
this  government  no  other  means  of  repressing  said  crimes  and  outrages  than  by  the 
adoption  of  such  measures  of  retaliation  as  shall  serve  to  prevent  their  repeti 
tion: 

"  Ordered,  That  Major-General  Hunter  and  Brigadier-General  Phillips  be  no  longer 
held  and  treated  as  public  enemies  of  the  Confederate  States,  but  as  outlaws ;  and 
that  in  the  event  of  the  capture  of  either  of  them,  or  that  of  any  other  commis 
sioned  officer  employed  in  drilling,  organizing,  or  instructing  slaves,  with  a  view  to 
their  armed  service  in  this  war,  he  shall  not  be  regarded  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  but 
held  in  close  confinement  for  execution  as  a  felon,  at  such  time  and  place  as  the 
President  may  order. 

"  By  order,  S.  COOPER, 

"  Adjutant  and  Inspector-General." 

Subsequently,  General  Hunter,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Tyng  gave  his 
reasons  as  a  soldier  for  the  employment  of  blacks.  In  that  letter 
he  said : 

"  But  in  presence  of  one  great  evil,  which  has  so  long  brooded 
over  our  country,  the  intelligence  of  a  large  portion  of  our  people 
would  seemed  paralyzed  and  helpless.  Their  moral  nerves  lie  tor 
pid  under  its  benumbing  shadow.  Its  breath  has  been  the  pesti 
lence  of  the  political  atmosphere  in  which  our  statesmen  have  been 
nurtured,  and  never,  I  fear,  until  its  beak  is  dripping  with  the  best 
blood  of  the  country,  and  its  talons  tangled  in  her  vitals,  will  the 
free  masses  of  the  loyal  States  be  fully  aroused  to  the  necessity  of 
abating  the  abomination  at  whatever  cost  and  by  whatever  agencies. 

"  This  is  written,  not  politically,  but  according  to  my  profession 
in  the  military  sense.  Looking  forward,  there  looms  up  a  possi 
bility  (only  too  possible)  of  a  peace  which  shall  be  nothing  but  an 
armistice,  with  every  advantage  secured  to  the  Rebellion.  Nothing 
can  give  us  permanent  peace  but  a  successful  prosecution  of  the 
war,  with  every  weapon  and  energy  at  our  command,  to  its  logical 
and  legitimate  conclusion.  The  fomenting  cause  of  the  Rebellion 
must  be  abated ;  the  ax  must  be  laid  to  the  root  of  the  upas  tree 
which  has  rained  down  such  bitter  fruit  upon  our  country,  before 
anything  like  a  permanent  peace  can  be  justly  hoped. 


EIGHTH    CAVALKY.  551 

"Already  I  see  signs  in  many  influential  quarters,  heretofore 
opposed  to  my  views  in  favor  of  arming  the  blacks,  of  a  change  of 
sentiment.  Our  recent  disasters  before  Richmond  have  served  to 
illuminate  many  minds." 

Subsequently  to  being  relieved  of  the  Department  of  the  South, 
General  Hunter  commanded  in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  has  been 
President  of  an  important  military  commission  and  has  rendered 
other  important  services  to  the  country. 

THE  EIGHTH  ILLINOIS  CAVALRY. 

The  following  is  the  original  roster  of  the  regiment: 

Colonel,  John  F.  Farnsworth ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  William  Gamble;  Major, 
David  R.  Clendenin;  Adjutant,  Robert  T.  Sill;  Adjutant  1st  Batallion  Campbell, 
W.  Waite ;  Adjutant  2d  Battalion,  Edmund  Gifford ;  Adjutant  3d  Battalion,  John 
Tifield ;  Quartermaster,  Bradley  L.  Chamberlain ;  Surgeon,  Abner  Hard  ;  Assistant 
Surgeon,  Samuel  K.  Crawford ;  Chaplain,  Lucius  C.  Matlack. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Patrick  G.  Jennings;  1st  Lieutenant,  Bryant  Beach;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Nelson  L.  Blanchard. 

Co.  B — Captain,  Lorenzo  H.  Whitney;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  G.  Smith;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Jacob  M.  Liglen. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Alpheus  Clark;  1st  Lieutenant,  Daniel  D.  Lincoln;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  John  C.  Mitchell. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Jacob  S.  Gerhart ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  I.  Hotopp  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Carlos  H.  Verbeck. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Elisha  S.  Kelly;  1st  Lieutenant,  Benjamin  L.  Flagg;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Woodbury  M.  Taylor. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Reuben  Cleveland;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edward  S.  Smith;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Alvin  P.  Granger. 

Co.  G — Captain,  William  H.  Medill;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  A.  Forsyth ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Dennis  J.  Hynes. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Rufus  M.  Hooker;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  Harrison;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  M.  Southworth. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Hiram  L.  Rapelge  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  H.  Sheldon;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  Cool. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Elon  J.  Farnsworth  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  W.  Flagg ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Darius  Sullivan. 

Co.  L — Captain,  Daniel  Dustin;  1st  Lieutenant,  Amasa  E.  Dana;  2d  Lieutenant, 
John  M.  Waite. 

Co.  M — Captain,  John  Austin ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Andrew  J.  Martin ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
John  F.  Austin. 

There  is  no  regiment  of  which  Illinoisans  have  more  frequently 


552  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

spoken  with  pride  than  the  8th  Cavalry.  It  comprised  much  of  the 
elite  of  the  Northwest ;  young  men  of  education  and  position,  and 
they  have  borne  their  battle-flag  from  the  Fox  to  the  Chickahominy 
without  disgrace. 

The  regiment  was  organized  at  St.  Charles  under  the  Hon.  John 
F.  Farnsworth,  on  the  ISth  of  September,  1861.  In  October  it  pro 
ceeded  to  Washington.  December,  15th  it  left  Washington  for 
Alexandria  and  was  assigned  to  General  Simmer's  division,  and 
constituted  a  portion  of  General  Richardson's  force  which  went  to 
the  Rappahannoek  in  February,  1862.  It  was  kept  scouting  on 
this  line  until  General  McClellan's  army  had  been  embarked  for  the 
Peninsula,  when  it  took  transports  for  Shippings  Point,  at  the 
mouth  of  York  River,  where  it  was  debarked  May  1st  and  2d  and 
joined  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  rebel  force  from  Yorktown  to 
Williamsburg,  where  the  men  saw  the  first  heavy  fighting,  of  which, 
though  under  fire,  they  were  spectators  rather  than  active  participants. 
They  were  among  the  first  to  enter  Williamsburg,  and  to  carry  into  it 
the  "  old  flag."  Here  one  battalion  under  command  cf  Major  John  L. 
Beveridge  was  sent  on  a  reconnoissance  to  Jamestown.  After  leav 
ing  Williamsburg,  one  squadron  was  detached  as  escort  to  General 
Keyes,  commander  of  4th  corps,  and  the  rest  under  their  gallant 
Colonel  reported  to  General  Stoneman,  and  were  assigned  the  peril 
ous  honor  of  leading  the  advance  in  McClellan's  march  on  Rich 
mond.  On  the  Chickahominy  it  held  a  large  picket  line  and  skir 
mished  more  with  the  enemy  than  any  other  regiment,  and  more 
than  once  was  complimented  by  Generals  McClellan  and  Stoneman. 
It  participated  in  all  the  battles  of  that  remarkable  campaign  and 
covered  in  the  retreat  to  Harrison's  Landing.  In  the  "  seven  days1 
fights  "  Captain  R.  M.  Hooker,  Co.  H,  was  the  first  man  killed.  He 
fell,  when  the  enemy  attacked  the  pickets  on  the  extreme  right,  but 
his  brave  men  fought  on.  The  remainder  of  the  regiment  came  up 
to  reinforce  the  pickets,  and  the  8th  alone  stood  against  the  rebel 
infantry,  for  five  hours  of  bloody  battle.  At  Mechanicsville  it  w;-s 
hotly  engaged.  At  Gaines  Hill  it  was  placed  to  keep  the  infantry 
stragglers  in  place,  and  to  rally  the  broken  fragments  of  regiments, 
which  they  did  in  such  manner  as  to  secure  official  approval.  Ex- 
Governor  Wood  was  visiting  the  regiment  at  this  time,  and  was 


A   DASH.  553 

everywhere  conspicuous,  rallying  the  desponding  and  leading  them 
again  and  again  to  the  conflict.  General  Porter  more  than  once 
ordered  the  old  hero  from  the  field,  but  he  could  not  obey  such 
orders  !  He  would  share  the  destiny  of  the  regiment  he  loved ! 

As  the  army  withdrew  across  the  Chickahominy,  the  8th  was  re 
lieved  from  duty  on  the  picket-line,  and  found  opportunity  for  a 
daring  exploit  which  rang  through  the  country.  Two  or  three  weeks 
previously,  it  made  a  raid  on  the  enemy's  communications,  cutting 
the  railroad  north  of  Richmond,  capturing  a  train  of  cars,  destroy 
ing  supplies,  and  in  every  possible  way  making  itself  disagreeable 
to  the  enemy.  Now  the  foe  was  attempting  to  rush  in  and  sever 
the  Federal  line  of  communication.  About  two  miles  from  Bot 
tom's  Bridge  were  two  hospitals  unapprised  of  our  retreat,  and 
soon  the  rebels  would  be  upon  them.  The  8th  would  not  suffer 
them  to  be  captured.  A  squadron  fell  back  to  the  hospitals,  and 
then  coolly  inarched  to  meet  the  advancing  columns  and  engaging 
them  at  narrow  places  along  the  road  they  had  studied  in  their  raids, 
fought  them  as  though  supported  by  a  whole  army,  until  time  was 
gained  for  the  removal  of  the  inmates  and  hospital  supplies,  and 
then  laughing  their  enemy  to  scorn,  rejoined  their  comrades ! 

During  the  retreat,  the  8th  was  pushed  through  to  Haxall's  Land 
ing,  in  advance  of  all  the  troops,  and  joined  in  the  battle  of  Malvern 
Hill,  and  on  the  day  following,  in  the  retreat  from  Haxall's  Land 
ing  to  Harrison's  Bar,  constituted  the  extreme  rear,  exposed,  of 
course,  to  assaults  of  the  enemy.  In  the  incessant  skirmishes  of 
the  next  month,  the  8th  was  constantly  engaged.  Its  sabers  were 
ever  drawn,  and  its  tally  ho !  was  learned  and  dreaded  by  the 
bravest  of  their  enemies.  When  again  retreat  was  ordered,  and  the 
grand  army  of  the  Potomac  marched  from  Harrison's  Bar  to  York- 
town,  the  8th  was  the  extreme  rear-guard,  again  between  the  flag  and 
the  foe. 

After  coming  up  the  Potomac  from  the  Peninsula,  the  8th  Illinois, 
8th  Pennsylvania,  and  6th  U.  S.  Cavalry  were  the  advance,  march 
ing  against  Lee  at  Frederick,  Md.  Each  day  they  fought,  and  each 
day  they  drove  the  rebel  cavalry  before  them.  The  charge  of  those 
three  regiments  was  terrible  as  destiny.  Near  Poolsville,  the  8th 
captured  the  colors  of  the  vaunted  12th  Virginia  Cavalry,  a  regi 
ment  composed  of  scions  of  the  chivalry. 


554:  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

The  flag  of  the  8th  was  seen  in  the  thick  of  the  conflicts  at  Kato- 
cin  Pass,  Middletown,  South  Mountain,  Boonsboro  and  Antietam. 
It  shared  largely  in  the  daily  skirmishes  which  preceded  the  advance 
of  the  army  under  Burnside,  and  when  the  army  did  move,  the  cav 
alry  was  thrown  forward  to  clear  the  way.  It  was  no  child's  play. 
The  8th  fought  along  that  line  of  march  with  brave  enemies  at  Pur- 
celsville,  Philemont,  Union,  Upperville,  Piedmont,  Markham,  Barbee's 
Cross  Roads,  and  Aimsville.  At  Little  Washington,  the  8th  Illinois 
and  3d  Indiana  Cavalry — regiments  worthy  of  being  associated,  as 
they  were,  in  many  a  weary  march  and  desperate  battle,  in  reverse 
and  victory — under  command  of  Col.  Farnsworth,  without  artillery, 
met,  engaged,  and  drove  back  Hampton's  brigade,  with  its  artillery. 
It  was  bravely  done.  After  one  or  two  more  skirmishes,  Col.  Farns 
worth' s  command  reached  Falmouth  with  Burnside' s  advance.  They 
were  the  only  cavalry  on  the  terrible  field  of  Fredericksburg,  under 
fire,  but  not  actually  engaged. 

Winter  brought  the  8th  little  rest,  for  between  skirmishing  and 
picket  duty,  it  was  constantly  busy.  In  the  spring  it  joined  the  cav 
alry  movements,  and  after  raiding  toward  Richmond,  returned  in  time 
to  witness  the  closing  contest  of  Hooker's  army  at  Chancellorsville. 
During  this  spring,  when  rapid  marches,  incessant  fighting,  and  short 
rations  had  so  reduced  most  of  the  cavalry,  the  fine  condition  of  the 
horses  and  the  fire  of  the  men  of  the  8th  were  commended  by  officers 
and  admired  by  spectators.  This  was  owing  both  to  the  skill  and 
care  of  the  officers,  and  the  superior  morale  of  the  men. 

Again,  at  Beverly  Ford,  the  8th  distinguished  itself  by  especial 
bravery,  and  was  highly  complimented  upon  the  field  by  General 
Pleasanton.  Never  was  the  approval  of  a  commander  more  richly 
won.  These  bold  troopers  rode  fearlessly  into  the  face  of  death. 
After  this  they  were  placed  in  General  Buford's  division,  in  which 
they  remained  until  the  death  of  that  gallant  commander.  They 
commenced  the  terrific  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  it  was  a  proud 
movement  for  the  boys  when  General  Doubleday  thanked  them  for 
saving  his  division  from  slaughter  in  the  first  day's  battle.  They 
engaged  in  the  many  cavalry  skirmishes  preceding  the  crossing  of 
the  Potomac  by  Lee  at  Falling  Waters.  At  this  point  Buford's 
cavalry  captured  great  numbers  of  the  rebel  rear-guard  of  infantry. 


EE-ENLISTMENT.  555 

Another  rapid  campaign  and  the  army  was  again  upon  the  Rapidan, 
Duford's  cavalry  leading  the  way. 

The  8th  claims  the  honor  of  originating  veteran  enlistments.  As 
early  as  July,  1863,  a  majority  offered  to  re-enlist  as  a  regiment. 
Strange  to  say,  the  War  Department  refused  permission  until  nearly 
November.  It  is  a  marvel  how  constantly  the  people  and  the  army 
have  been  beforehand  with  the  War  Department,  and  how  often 
brave  men  have  been  compelled  to  beg  for  the  privilege  of  service. 
In  November  a  few  were  sworn  in,  but  the  work  of  making  out  the 
veteran  rolls  delayed  the  re-enlistment  of  the  regiment  until  January 
1,  1864,  when  the  8th  was  again  in  service. 

The  veteran  furlough  having  expired,  it  was  ordered  to  the  East 
and  again  engaged  in  scouting  in  Northern  Virginia.  When  Early's 
invasion  came,  the  8th  was  active  in  repelling  him.  With  others,  it 
contested  the  ground  foot  by  foot,  fighting  heroically  and  success 
fully  at  Middletown  and  Monocacy  Junction.  At  TJrbana  the  8th 
held  in  check  two  brigades,  opposing  a  wall  of  steel  to  their  ap 
proach,  and  so  saved  the  bleeding  army  of  Major-General  Lew.  Wal 
lace  from  being  destroyed  in  detail.  The  service  then  rendered  can 
hardly  be  overestimated. 

It  has  been,  sorely  against  its  will,  retained  in  the  department  at 
Washington,  where  it  has  had  fatiguing  scouting,  heavy  marching 
and  hard  riding,  with  but  small  opportunity  for  distinction.  But 
the  record  of  the  8th  is  made,  and  a  glorious  one  it  is  !  The  cavalry 
annals  have  none  brighter.  Its  deeds  have  the  glitter  of  romance, 
and  yet  the  hard  granite  of  substantial  fact. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Chicago  Tribune,  writing  Feb.  1,  1865, 
says  : 

"The  8th  Illinois  numbers  about  1,100  men  fit  for  duty,  and  is 
occasionally  receiving  new  recruits.  After  traveling  through  the 
Army  of  the  James  and  the  whole  extent  of  General  Grant's  lines, 
noticing  all  the  various  camps,  I  am  sure  the  8th  will  compare  favor 
ably  with  any  regiment  in  the  service,  while  the  appearance  of  the 
camp  certainly  does  credit  to  the  men  as  well  as  their  officers.  Some 
of  the  best  officers  have  resigned  and  gone  home  to  their  families. 
They  were  almost  necessitated  to  leave,  for  the  simple  reason  that 
they  could  not  maintain  their  families  on  their  pay,  which  every  one 


556  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

knows  to  be  too  small  for  the  exigences  of. the  times;  but  this  regi 
ment  has  about  five  months'  pay  due  them,  and  this  delinquency  in 
quite  an  itam  with  an  offiaer  who  has  family  incumbrances  dependent 
oil  his  salary  for  support." 

General  Jno.  F.  Farnsworth  was  the  first  Colonel  who  commanded 
the  gallant  8th  cavalry.  He  was  a  lawyer,  residing  in  St.  Charles, 
and  had  represented  his  district  (then  including  Chicago),  in  Con 
gress.  Subsequently  Hon.  I.  N.  Arnold  was  nominated  and  elected. 

Mr.  Farnsworth  was  an  intense  hater  of  slavery,  and  when  the 
slaveholder's  rebellion  came  he  had  but  one  thought;  viz.,  to  put  it 
down  at  once  and  forever.  Throwing  all  the  energy  of  his  nature 
into  the  work,  the  8th  cavalry  was  raised  and  filled  with  noble  fight 
ing  material.  He  led  it  to  the  field  and  participated  in  its  hard 
ships,  battles  and  skirmishes. 

He  was  soon  placed  in  command  of  a  brigade  and  attracted  the 
attention  of  his  superior  officers  by  his  ability  and  bravery.  He  was 
promoted  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers  December  5,  1862. 

While  in  command  of  the  8th,  he  came  home  on  furlough,  and 
reached  Chicago  on  a  day  when  a  vast  and  enthusiastic  war  meeting 
was  being  held  in  the  court-house  square.  His  presence  became 
known,  and  incessant  cries  were  made  for  him.  At  length  he  came 
forward  upon  the  steps  of  the  north  front,  wearing  his  dusty  blouse, 
evidently  worn  with  campaigning  and  travel.  It  was  before  the 
kid-glove  policy  of  fighting  had  been  wholly  abandoned,  and  when 
one  of  the  worst  fears  of  some  commanders  seemed  to  be  that  of  "  ex 
asperating  our  Southern  brethren."  Especially  was  there  much  ten- 
derfootedness  in  reference  to  slaves.  They  were  not  to  be  harbored. 
If  they  came  within  our  lines  they  should  be  restored  to  the  prowl 
ing  rebel  who  might  claim  them.  With  this  the  General  dealt  as 
matter  of  fact.  It  was  folly  to  fight  and  yet  leave  slavery  to  pro 
vide  Southern  food.  It  was  the  Southern  commissariat  and  must  be 
broken  up.  Beside  that,  Nortriern  soldiers  were  not  to  be  degraded 
into  Southern  slave-catchers.  "  But,"  he  added,  "  you  cannot  keep 
the  negro  out  of  this  war.  The  only  question  is,  who  shall  use  him  ? 
He  will  dig  their  trenches  or  ours ;  he  will  build  their  breastworks 
or  ours.  Aye,"  and  he  drew  himself  to  a  loftier  hight  as  he  said,  in 
ringing  tones,  "he  will  fight  in  this  war;  he  will  cut  the  throats  of 


GENERAL   GAMBLE.  557 

us  or  the  rebels,  and  we  must  soon  decide  which."  The  effect  was 
positively  overwhelming. 

In  the  fall  of  1862,  the  Congressional  districts  having  been  changed, 
he  was  nominated  to  represent  the  2d  district,  and  elected  by  a  large 
majority.  In  1864  he  was  re-nominated,  and  elected  by  the  largest 
majority  of  any  representative  in  the  United  States.  He  resigned 
his  commission  March  4,  1863. 

He  is  an  uncompromising  hater  of  slavery.  It  is  with  him  a  hate 
bitter  as  gall  and  relentless  as  death.  He  lost  no  chance  to  deal  it 
?t  blow  from  his  sinewy  arm,  and  none  rejoiced  more  heartily  when 
Congress  declared  the  day  had  come  when  it  must  die. 

Gen.  William  Gamble,  a  native  of  Ireland,  was  a  practical  engi 
neer,  having  been,  from  fifteen  to  twenty  years  of  age,  engaged  in 
the  Queen's  surveying  office  and  in  the  survey  of  the  North  of  Ire 
land.  Landing  at  New  York  when  twenty  years  of  age,  he  enlisted 
in  the  1st  U.  S.  dragoons  (regulars).  He  was  soon  promoted  to 
Sergeant-Major  and  so  served  five  years.  He  was  in  the  Florida 
war,  and  was  stationed  at  Forts  Leavenworth  and  Gibson  engaged 
in  guarding  against  the  Indians. 

He  left  the  army,  and  removing  to  Chicago,  engaged  again  in  the 
profession  of  civil  engineering.  When  war  came  he  resided  in 
Evanston,  though  his  business  was  in  Chicago.  He  knew  his  mili 
tary  experience  would  be  of  service,  and  leaving  a  lucrative  busi 
ness,  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  adopted  country.  His  services 
in  drilling  the  8th  were  of  great  value,  and  did  much  to  make  it 
what  it  became,  a  model  of  discipline  and  terribleness.  He  was 
commissioned  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Sept.  5th.  He  was  early  thrown 
in  command  of  the  regiment  and  the  men  knew  he  was  fearless  and 
capable.  On  the  promotion  of  Col.  Farns worth,  he  became  Colonel. 
He  was  through  the  battles  of  the  Peninsula,  and  leading  a  charge 
at  Malvern  Hill,  August  5,  1862,  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life,  re 
ceiving  a  severe  wound  in  the  breast,  .which  for  some  time  disabled 
him.  When  the  regiment  came  home  to  re-enlist,  its  fame  called 
young  men  by  hundreds  to  its  torn  flag.  A  peril  being  again  upon 
the  capital,  the  8th  was  ordered  back  to  service  before  its  veteran 
furlough  expired,  a  circumstance  which  called  out  a  characteristic 
order  from  the  Colonel. 


558  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

For  two  years  or  more  the  Colonel  was  in  command  of  a  brigade. 
In  December,  1864,  the  President  designated  him  Brigadier- General 
by  brevet,  and  on  the  14th  of  February,  1865,  the  nomination  was 
confirmed  by  the  Senate — a  tardy  act  of  justice. 

Colonel  Clendenin,  who  wears  his  title  yet  by  brevet,  has  been  in 
actual  command  of  the  regiment  most  of  the  time  for  two  years  and 
has  proved  hims.elf  a  competent  commander.  While  Col.  Gamble 
had  charge  of  a  brigade,  including  some  6,000  men,  stretching  over 
a  line  of  more  than  thirty  miles,  the  care  of  the  regiment  de 
volved  upon  his  junior.  It  is  sufficient  for  his  capacity  to  say  that 
the  regiment,  after  all  it  has  undergone,  numbered,  in  February  1865, 
more  than  1,100  men  fit  for  duty. 

Major  Beveridge,  after  serving  the  8th  with  distinction,  was  mus 
tered  out  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  17th  cavalry,  of  which 
he  became  Colonel,  and  has  since  been  promoted  Brigadier-General 
by  brevet. 

Capt.  Elon  J.  Farnsworth  entered  the  8th  in  command  of  Co.  K. 
He  was  subsequently  detached  and  rose  rapidly  until  he  received 
the  commission  of  Brigadier-General,  June  29,  1863.  He  fell,  mor 
tally  Avounded,  on  the  field  of  Gettysburg,  and  died  shortly  after 
wards.  His  young  life  was  full  of  high  promise — suddenly  going 
out. 

Among  the  costly  gifts  of  the  8th  to  the  country  was  Major  Wm. 
H.  Medill.  He  was  born  in  Massillon,  Ohio,  Nov.  5,  1835.  In  1855 
he  came  to  Chicago  and  became  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Prairie 
Farmer.  Subsequently  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  was  editor  and 
proprietor  of  the  Stark  County  Republican.  He  returned  to  Chi 
cago  and  obtained  a  situation  in  the  Tribune  office.  At  the  breaking 
out  of  the  rebellion  he  enlisted  in  Barker's  dragoons,  and  at  Beverly 
distinguished  himself  for  gallantry,  capturing  in  personal  combat  a 
Georgian  Lieutenant.  When  the  dragoons  were  mustered  out  he 
obtained  permission  to  raise  a  company  for  the  8th  cavalry,  and  de 
clining  to  be  a  candidate  for  Major,  was  made  senior  captain,  and  as 
such,  for  several  months  in  the  summer  and  fall  of  1861,  had  com 
mand  of  the  regiment,  proving  his  fitness  for  advanced  rank.  At 
Bealton's  Station  he  commanded  the  leading  squadron  in  a  gallant 


MAJOR   MEDILL.  559 

charge  upon  a  body  of  rebel  cavalry,  which  was  broken  and  fled. 
He  was  with  "Farnsworth's  big  Abolition  Regiment" — as  the  8th 
was  called  by  both  Northern  and  Southern  traitors — in  its  varied 
fortunes ;  led  his  battalion  on  a  reconnoissance  within  twelve  miles 
of  Richmond.  During  the  pendency  of  the  peninsula  battles  he 
wrote  home : 

"  I  am  disgusted  at  the  way  this  fine  army  is  employed.  One  part  is  ditch  dig 
ging,  and  another  stands  guard  over  the  plantations  and  property  of  slaveholders, 
whose  sons  are  in  Lee's  army  fighting  us.  Our  generals  will  never  put  down  this 
slaveholders'  rebellion  by  pursuing  a  pro-slavery  policy.  The  chief  support  of  the 
rebellion  is  derived  from  the  labor  of  four  millions  of  slaves,  who  supply  the  com 
missary  and  quartermaster's  departments  of  the  enemy,  and  support  the  families  of 
the  rebel  soldiers  besides.  We  must  knock  away  this  great  pillar  of  their  edifice, 
else  we  shall  never  succeed  in  putting  down  the  revolt.  I  am  not  sanguine  of  the 
result  of  the  impending  battle ;  our  boys  will  make  a  stubborn  fight,  but  McClellan 
has  waited  too  long.  He  has  neglected  his  opportunity.  Mark  my  words." 

He  commanded  in  the  affairs  of  Damascus,  Tenallytown  and 
Boonsboro,  which  taught  J.  E.  B.  Stewart  the  power  of  Illinois 
bravery.  Again  at  Martinsburg  he  distinguished  himself  for  bravery 
and  skill,  and  received  the  commendation  of  General  Pleasanton 
He  was  severely  ill  for  a  time,  but  as  soon  as  possible  was  in  the 
saddle,  and  participated  in  the  contest  at  Aldie  and  Upperville,  and 
had  charge  of  the  regiment.  It  was  a  brilliant  affair  when  the 
"Abolition  Regiment"  defeated,  successively,  two  Virginia  regi 
ments  and  one  from  North  Carolina,  and  the  Major  himself  captured 
the  Colonel  of  the  llth  Virginia  cavalry.  A  newspaper  corres 
pondent  thus  narrates  the  incident : 

"  While  the  Major  was  rallying  his  men,  after  one  of  our  charges,  I  saw,  at  a  short 
distance  over  the  field,  a  rebel  horseman,  with  drawn  sword,  chasing  our  Sergeant 
Major,  who  had  got  mixed  up  with  the  rebels.  Major  Medill,  who  happened  to  be 
near,  put  spurs  to  his  big  bay  horse,  and  in  a  few  bounds  was  close  to  the  'reb.,'  who 
raised  his  sword  aloft  and  shouted  '  surrender !'  The  Major  brought  his  revolver  to 
an  aim,  and  was  in  the  act  of  pulling  the  trigger,  when  the  fellow  dropped  his 
sword  and  cried  out,  'Don't  shoot,  I  surrender.'  He  saved  his  life  by  just  a  second, 
as  more  than  one  bullet  would  have  lodged  in  his  body  the  next  instant.  The  pris 
oner  proved  to  be  the  Colonel  of  the  llth  Virginia  cavalry,  and  big  enough  in  a  fist 
fight  to  have  whipped  two  of  our  Major;  but  on  the  field  of  battle,  size  confers  but 
little  advantage," 

At  Gettysburg,  Buford's  cavalry,  in  which  the  8th  was  conspicu- 


560  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

ous  had  the  advance,  and  kept. the  foe  in  check  for  three  hours. 
Major  Beveridge,  commanding  the  right,  Major  Medill  the  left  of  the 
8th.  The  12th  was  near  the  8th,  and  Buford's  cavalry  defied  the 
massed  foe.  The  battle  was  over  and  Lee  was  in  full  retreat,  and  the 
cavalry  hung  on  the  rear.  July  6th  it  was  discovered  by  the  8th 
that  the  rebels  were  building  a  bridge  on  the  Potomac  at  Williams- 
port,  and  though  they  were  in  force  it  was  desirable  to  destroy  it. 
A  brigade  of  regulars  were  placed  on  the  right  and  the  cavalry  on 
the  left  of  the  road.  Half  the  8th  was  ordered  by  Bu'ford  to  dis 
mount  and  advance  as  skirmishers.  Major  Medill  said  to  Major 
Beveridge,  "  A  field  officer  should  command  the  battalion  and  if  you 
liave  no  objection  I  will  go."  Seizing  a  carbine  he  galloped  after  his 
comrades,  reached  them,  took  his  place  and  called,  "  Come  on,  boys," 
and  the  line  surged  rapidly  forward.  Some  rebels  posted  behind  a 
barn  and  some  fences  opened  fire,  but  they  steadily  advanced  until 
the  field  was  more  than  half  crossed,  when  he  ordered  a  volley  and 
raised  his  own  carbine,  when  a  minnie  ball  struck  him,  passing  through 
the  breast  bone  downward,  perforating  the  lung  and  lodging  near  the 
backbone.  The  wound  was  seen  to  be  mortal.  He  was  borne  to  the 
hospital  at  Frederick  City.  Here  he  lay  six  days,  calmly  convers 
ing,  making  his  will  and  listening  eagerly  for  word  of  the  destruc 
tion  of  Lee's  host.  When  he  heard  of  its  escape  he  was  agonized 
and  said  he  wished  he  had  died  without  hearing  it.  His  remains 
were  brought  to  Chicago  and  interred  with  all  due  respect. 

So  died  a  brave  man,  a  fearless  leader,  an  officer  of  promise  and 
a  true  patriot.  General  Pleasanton-  bore  testimony  to  his  worth. 
His  brother,  Joseph  Medill,  is  editor  of  the  Chicago  Tribune. 

Chaplain  Lucius  C.  Matlack  was  an  eloquent  minister,  an  original 
anti-slavery  agitator,  and  long  an  anti-slavery  editor.  He  had  been 
President  of  the  college  at  Wheaton.  Owing  to  some  informality 
he  was  mustered  out.  When  the  17th  Cavalry  was  organized  he 
was  chosen  as  one  of  its  majors. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Philo  Judson,  who  did  good  service 
until  failing  health  compelled  him  to  return.  The  choice  of  the 
regiment  was  then  for  a  brave  fellow-soldier,  orderly  sergeant  W.  A. 
Spencer,  who  came  home  and  received  ordination  from  a  council 
called  by  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Chicago.  Others  of 


TWELFTH    CAVALRY.  561 

the  8th  deserve  mention,  but  with  the  imperfect  facts  in  our  posses 
sion  at  present,  we  cannot  do  them  justice. 

THE  TWELFTH  CAVALRY. 

The  twin  regiment  of  the  8th  has  been  the  12th.  It  has  passed 
through  many  of  the  same  scenes,  battles,  marches,  privations  and 
victories.  It  seems  to  be  made  of  the  same  unconquerable  stuff. 
As  originally  constituted,  the  following  is  the  roster : 

Colonel,  Arno  Voss;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Hasbrouck  Davis;  1st  Major,  Francis  T. 
Sherman;  2d  Major,  Thomas  W.  Grosvenor;  3d  Major,  John  G.Fonda;  Adjutant, 
James  Daley ;  Adjutant  1st  Battalion,  Jonathan  Slade ;  Adjutant  2d  Battalion,  Alex 
ander  Stewart;  Adjutant  3d  Battalion, ;  Quartermaster,  Lawrence  J. 

J.  Nissen;  Commissary,  Moses  Shields;  Surgeon,  John  Higgins;  Assistant-Surgeon, 
John  McCarthy  ;  Chaplain,  Abraham  J.  Warner. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Thomas  "W.  Grosvenor;  1st  Lieutenant,  Philip  E.  Fisher;  2d 
Lieutenant,  William  Luff. 

Co.  B— Captain,  Andrew  H.  Langholz ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  Jansen;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Charles  Grimm. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Stephen  Bronson;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  J.  Steel;  %d  Lieu 
tenant,  George  F.  Wood. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Richard  N.  Hayden ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  Roden ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Nathan  J.  Kidder. 

Co.  E — Captain,  John  P.  Harvey;  1st  Lieutenant,  Cephas  Strong;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Edward  Vasseur. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Ephraim  M.  Gillmore;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  L.  Reans ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Dennis  Palmer. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Thomas  Logan ;  1st  Lieutenant,  John,  H.  Clybourne  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Joseph  Logan. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Franklin  T.  Gilbert;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  O'Connell;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Theodore  G.  Knox. 

Co.  I — Captain,  David  C.  Brown;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edwin  A.  Webber;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  George  H.  Sitts. 

Thus  organized  the  12th  joined  its  fortunes  with  the  armies  in  the 
Old  Dominion,  and  had  its  first  serious  encounter  September  7, 1862, 
and  that  with  an  out-numbering  force  of  Ashby's  cavalry.  On  the 
5th,  Lieut. -Colonel  Davis  attacked  and  drove  a  detachment  of  the 
enemy  from  Bunker's  Hill,  between  Martinsburg  and  Winchester. 
Several  prisoners  and  horses  were  captured.  On  the  7th  Lieut.-Coi. 
Davis's  camp  at  Fryatt's  farm  was  attacked  at  daybreak  by  800  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry  and  the  videttes  and  pickets  driven  in.  He 
36 


562  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

had  with  him  a  small  force  of  Company  A,  Captain  Grosvenor, 
and  a  few  men  pf  Companies  F  and  G,  but  with  these  a  stand  was 
made,  until  Col.  Voss  sent  a  company  of  the  12th  to  reinforce  Lieut.  - 
Col.  Davis.  This  commander  ordered  his  little  force  to  charge,  and 
though  the  foe  was  ten  to  one,  the  men  answered  with  a  shout,  and 
the  enemy  was  forced  back  to  Darkesville  on  the  Winchester  pike, 
where  a  strong  stand  was  made,  the  rebels  occupying  the  houses 
and  stone-walls  on  the  flanks,  and  massing  themselves  in  front  of  the 
bold  riders  of  the  12th. 

Then  occurrred  one  of  the  most  brilliant  saber  charges  on  record. 
Without  firing,  the  little  handful  rode,  sword  in  hand,  with  shouts 
and  ringing  blows  upon  their  foe,  dashing  upon  his  center,  breaking 
it,  throwing  it  into  confusion  and  actually  driving  him  nearly  to 
Winchester,  capturing  between  forty  and  fifty  prisoners,  while  the 
villagers  reported  the  burial  of  twenty -five  or  thirty.  In  this  brilliant 
charge  there  were  actually  less  than  eighty  men  under  Col.  Davis  ! 
His  loss  in  all  was  fifteen  or  twenty  wounded,  three  or  four  mortally 
wounded.  Among  the  severely  w^ounded  was  the  brave  Captain 
Grosvenor  (later  Lieut-Col.,)  who  specially  distinguished  himself  for 
bravery,  riding  in  advance  of  his  men.  In  the  report  to  Brig.-Gen- 
eral  White,  Captains  Grosvenor  and  Haydon,  and  Lieut.  Logan  were 
commended  as  worthy  of  special  mention. 

September  12,  1862,  the  regiment  marched  with  General  White's 
command  from  Martinsburg  to  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  where  it  re 
mained  until  the  night  of  the  14th,  when,  the  place  being  surrounded 
by  the  enemy,  the  cavalry  had  leave  to  attempt  to  cut  out  and  reach 
our  lines.  The  column  left  Harper's  Ferry  at  8  P.  M.,  and  proceeded 
at  a  gallop  to  Sharpsburg,  Md.,  and  thence  at  a  rapid  gait  to  within 
two  miles  of  Williamsport,  Md.  At  this  point  it  intercepted  a  rebel 
supply  train  and  captured  112  wagons  loaded  with  ammunition  and 
provisions,  100  head  of  beef  cattle,  and  fifty  prisoners.  The  column 
reached  Greencastle,  Pa.,  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  after  march 
ing  65  miles.  The  loss  of  the  12th  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners 
was  fifty  men. 

The  regiment  joined  the  forces  on  the  upper  Potomac  September 
20,  1862,  and  served  there  until  December  8, 1862,  when  it  marched 
to  Dumfries,  Va.,  as  advance  and  rear  guard  of  General  Slocum's 


TWELFTH    CAVALRY.  563 

column,  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  served  at  Dumfries  until  March, 
1863,  and  on  the  28th  of  December,  1862,  defended  and  held  the 
place  against  a  greatly  superior  force  of  cavalry  and  artillery  under 
the  rebel  General  Stuart. 

On  the  organization  of  the  cavalry  corps,  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
the  12th  was  assigned  to  the  2d  brigade,  3d  division.  The  regiment 
took  an  important  and  conspicuous  part  in  what  is  known  as  the 
"  Stonewall  raid."  Lieut.-Col.  H.  Davis,  with  300  men,  marched  from 
Thompson's  Cross  Roads,  where  he  lefl  the  main  column,  to  Glou 
cester  Point,  Va.,  passing  in  the  rear  of  Lee's  army  and  within  two 
miles  of  Richmond,  although  opposed  by  superior  numbers  of  the 
enemy.  The  loss  of  the  12th  in  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners  was 
three  officers  and  fifty  men. 

It  was  an  exciting  moment  to  the  brave  Ulinoisans  when  they 
came  within  sight  of  the  spires  of  Richmond,  the  center  of  rebel 
lion,  and  they  would  willingly  have  essayed  the  task  of  galloping 
down  its  principal  avenues  and  carrying  its  usurping  chief  a  present 
to  the  President  of  the  U.  S.,  but  cooler  brains  gave  other  orders. 

In  May,  1863,  the  regiment,  with  the  2d  New  York  Cavalry,  under 
command  of  Colonel  Kilpatrick  of  the  2d,  made  a  raid  into 
Mathew's  County,  Virginia,  and  captured  and  brought  to  York- 
town  500  horses,  100  head  of  beef  cattle,  300  sheep  and  20,000 
bushels  of  corn  and  wheat. 

The  regiment  then  marched  from  Gloucester  Point  to  Falmouth, 
Virginia,  moving  up  the  south  side  of  the  Rappahannock  and  cross 
ing  at  Alabama,  and  June  18,  1863,  formed  the  1st  brigade  1st 
division  cavalry  corps.  It  shared  in  the  battles  of  Aldie,  June  20th ; 
Upperville,  June  22d;  Gettysburg,  July  1st,  2d  and  3d;  Boonsboro, 
July  6th  ;  Burevola,  July  7th  ;  Funkstown,  July  8th;  Williamsport, 
July  10th;  Jone's  Cross  Roads,  July  llth;  Falling  Waters,  July 
17th  ;  Chester  Gap,  Virginia,  July  28th  ;  Rappahannock,  August  3d; 
Culpepper,  C.  H.,  August  24;  Raccoon  Ford,  August  27th,  Madison, 
C.  H.,  September  12th;  Germania  Ford,  October  10th;  Stevens- 
burg,  October  13th;  Brentsville,  October  17th. 

At  the  close  of  the  campaign  of  1863  the  regiment  was  sent  to 
Chicago  to  recruit  and  reorganize.  It  immediately  filled  to  the 
maximum,  and  on  the  9th  of  February,  1864,  lefl  for  St.  Louis  one 


564:  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

thousand  two  hundred  and  fifty  strong.  Left  St.  Louis,  March  15t!i 
and  arrived  at  New  Orleans,  April  1,  1864.  Left  New  Orleans,  April 
20th,  for  Red  River  and  arrived  at  Alexandria,  La.,  April  23d.  In 
action  at  Alexandria,  La.,  April  28th,  May  5th,  6th,  7th  and  8th; 
Markville,  May  15th;  Yellow  Bayou,  May  17th;  Morganzia,  May 
20,  1864.  Arrived  at  New  Orleans,  June  1,  1864.  Left  New 
Orleans,  June  11,  1864,  and  marched  to  Napoleon ville,  La.,  where 
it  remained  on  picket  and  scouting  duty  until  October,  1864,  when 
it  marched  to  Baton  Rouge,  La. — scouting  and  picketing  here  until 
November  14th,  when  it  formed  part  of  General  Lee's  column  in  a 
raid  to  Liberty,  Miss. ;  fought  at  Liberty — a  small  detachment 
dismounted  with  carbines,  defeating  three  times  their  number. 
November  2 7th  left  Baton  Rouge  with  General  Davidson,  marched 
to  West  Pascagoula,  Miss.  Arrived  at  New  Orleans  by  transport, 
December  20th,  at  Baton  Rouge,  December  30th.  Left  Baton 
Rouge  by  transports,  January  7,  1865,  disembarked  at  Vicksburg, 
Miss,  and  remained  a  week;  re-embarked  and  went  to  Memphis, 
Tenn.  ;  left  Memphis  by  transport,  January  26,  1865,  and  went  to 
Gaines'  Landing,  Ark. ;  disembarked  and  made  a  raid  under  Col.  E. 
D.  Osband,  through  Southern  Arkansas  and  Northern  Louisiana. 
Returned  to  Memphis  February  14, 1865.  February  28,  1865,  being 
three  years  from  the  original  organization,  120  officers  and  200  men 
whose  time  had  expired,  were  mustered  out  of  the  service  and  the 
organization  consolidated  into  eight  companies. 

It  has  never  been  the  custom  of  the  12th  to  falter  when  blows 
were  to  be  given  or  taken.  It  has  a  brilliant  record,  and  has 
added  to  the  lustrous  glory  of  Illinois  cavalry. 

The  data  for  biographical  sketches  of  the  officers  of  this  regiment 
are  not  in  the  author's  possession. 

Col.  Voss  commanded  more  than  one  year,  when  he  resigned, 
in  August,  1863.  He  was  succeeded  by  Lieut-Colonel  Davis,  a  son 
of  "  Honest  John  Davis,"  so  long  Senator  from  Massachusetts.  He 
has  commanded  the  12th  in  its  marches  and  battles,  and  has  right 
well  won  the  double  designation  of  the  brave  soldier  and  the  able 
officer. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Grosvenor  was  so  severely  wounded  in  the 
sword-arm  in  the  engagement  of  Darkesville,  as  to  be  permanently 


AN  INCIDENT.  565 

disabled.  He  was  then  Captain  of  Company  A,  and  was  duly  pro 
moted  Major  and  Lieutenant- Colonel,  but  ill  health  compelled  him 
to  resign  his  commission.  He  was  well  worthy  the  confidence  of 
his  men.  Surgeon  Hard  of  the  first  separate  brigade  sends  the 
author  the  following  touching  incident  which  is  well  authenticated : 
"On  the  13th  and  14th  of  September,  1863,  the  cavalry  corps  of  the  army  of  the 
Potomac  under  command  of  General  Pleasanton,  drove  the  rebels  in  a  series  of  bat 
tles,  or  it  might  be  said  almost  a  continuous  engagement  from  the  Rappahannock 
River  to  Raccoon  Ford  on  the  Rapidan  River,  a  distance  of  twenty  miles.  On  the 
14th  of  September,  while  the  skirmishers  on  each  side  were  hotly  engaged,  two 
brothers  of  the  12th  Illinois  Cavalry,  by  the  name  of  Kemper,  were  on  the  skirmish 
line,  one  a  1st  sergeant  the  other  a  private.  The  sergeant  was  shot  by  a  carbine 
or  minnie  ball  and  fell.  His  brother  sprang  to  his  relief,  took  him  in  his  arms  and 
was  carrying  him  from  the  field,  when  he  also  fell,  pierced  by  a  rebel  bullet.  In  a 
few  moments  I  was  called  to  see  them.  I  found  the  ball  had  entered  the  thorax  of  the 
sergeant,  and  lodged  in  the  lung  after  having  fractured  a  rib,  and  that  his  wound 
was  mortal,  of  which  he  was  informed.  The  brother  was  shot  through  the  lung 
making  his  recovery  extremely  doubtful.  They  were  placed  in  an  ambulance  and 
sent  to  Culpepper  with  the  other  wounded.  The  train  was  ordered  to  move  slowly 
and  make  frequent  stops,  in  order  to  give  the  wounded  stimulants  and  rest.  They 
had  traveled  several  miles  when  at  one  of  the  halts,  the  sergeant  said  to  his  brother: 
'I  feel  that  I  am  dying.  The  doctor  says  I  cannot  recover,  but  before  I  go  let  us 
sing  the  Star  Spangled  Banner.'  As  if  inspired  with  superhuman  power  these  wounded 
brothers  rallied,  raised  themselves  up,  and  in  a  clear  and  distinct  voice  sang  the 
piece  through,  when  the  sergeant  laid  back  upon  the  stretcher  and  expired.  I  have 
since  learned  that  the  brother  lived  a  few  weeks,  and  then  died  of  his  wound  in  one  of 
the  general  hospitals  in  Washington.  Such  exhibition  of  love  for  the  old  flag  to  tlie 
last,  it  seems  to  me  is  worthy  of  being  placed  on  record." 

The  following  is  the  roster  of  the  regiment  as  reorganized : 

Colonel,  Hasbrouck  Davis ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Thomas  "W.  Grosvenor ;  Major, 
Hamilton  B.  Box ;  Adjutant,  William  R.  Carpenter  ;  2d  Major,  Lawrence  J.  J.  Nissen ; 
Commissary,  Moses  Shield  ;  Surgeon,  John  Higgins  ;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  John 
McCarthy;  2d  Assistant  Surgeon,  Charles  E.  Wentworth. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Wm.  M.  Luff ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Joseph  E.  Fisher ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Joseph  A.  Adlington. 

Co.  B — Captain,  Charles  Roden ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  F.  Vaas ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Henry  Losberg. 

Co.  C — Captain,  Wm.  J.  Steele ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  E.  Coombs  ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Stephen  Standish. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Gustavus  A.  Marsh ;  1st  Lieutenant:  James  Daly ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Danford  Taylor. 


566  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

Co.  E — Captain,  Cephas  Strong;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edward  LeVasseur ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Alexander  Stewart. 

Co.  F — Captain,  Jackson  Drennan;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  Matlock;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Charles  Vennard. 

Co.  G — Captain,  John  H.  Clybourn ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  E.  Overrocker  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Edson  N.  Pratt. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Earl  H.  Chapman ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Isaac  Conroe  ;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Thomas  J.  Smith. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Frederick  W.  Mitchell ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  T.  Rickard ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Amherst  F.  Graves. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Henry  Jansen;  1st  Lieutenant,  Edmund  Luff;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Charles  L.  Arnet. 

Co.  L — Captain,  Richard  A.  Howk ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Carroll  Gossett ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  James  Dickson, 

Co.  M — Captain,  Oliver  Grosvenor;  1st  Lieutenant,  Robert  Gray;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Jesse  C.  Rodgers. 

BARKER'S  CHICAGO  DRAGOONS 

Were  organized  and  reported  at  Camp  Yates,  and  were  mustered  into 
State  service,  and  subsequently  into  the  U.  S.  service.  The  squad 
ron  proceeded  to  Camp  Defiance,  Cairo,  where  it  did  picket  duty 
six  weeks.  General  McClellan,  visiting  there,  was  so  much  pleased 
with  the  dragoons  that  he  adopted  them  as  his  escort,  and  directed 
them  to  join  him  at  Clarksburg,  Va.,  which  they  did.  For  two 
months  they  were  actively  engaged,  first  at  Philippi,  then  at  Buck- 
hannon,  then  the  severe  battle  of  Rich  Mountain,  and  then  the  hotly 
fought  and  bloody  contest  of  Beverly,  where  the  Union  forces  gained 
a  substantial  victory,  routing  the  foe  and  chasing  him  beyond  Car- 
rick's  Ford,  where  General  Garnett,  one  of  the  bravest  rebel  officers, 
was  killed,  and  many  prisoners  captured.  During  the  engagement, 
at  one  time  the  dragoons  dismounted  and  fought  as  infantry.  The 
way  to  Richmond,  via  Staunton,  seemed  open,  but  the  commanders 
were  cautious! 

The  dragoons  remained  in  service  more  than  a  month  over  their 
term  of  enlistment,  and  returned  home  and  were  mustered  out 
Subsequently  most  of  them  re-enlisted,  uniting  with  the  12th  cav 
alry,  under  Col.  Voss.  It  is  doubted  whether  any  more  thoroughly 
drilled  squadron  of  cavalry  have  been  seen  on  parade,  or  any  cooler 
and  braver  under  fire. 


THE    IRISH    BRIGADE.  567 

"THE  IRISH  BRIGADE." 

The  war-spirit  is  not  difficult  to  kindle  among  the  descendants  of 
the  Emerald  Isle,  and  yet  it  is  simple  truth  to  say  that  not  so  large 
a  proportion  of  that  population  has  enlisted  for  the  defense  of  the 
flag  as  the  early  days  of  the  war  gave  promise.  For  then,  there 
was  a  blaze  of  patriotism.  The  example  of  Shields,  Meagher,  Cor 
coran  and  Mulligan  kindled  the  fire  to  fever  heat. 

When  the  call  for  volunteers  was  made,  James  A.  Mulligan,  an 
eloquent  and  popular  young  lawyer  of  Chicago,  with  other  leading 
citizens  conceived  the  idea  of  an  Irish  regiment  of  which  certain 
existing  military  organizations  should  be  the  basis.  The  "Mont- 
gomeries,"  the  "Shields"  and  "Emmetts,"  held  a  public  meeting 
and  received  the  proposition  with  great  favor.  The  press  reported 
the  meeting.  Instantly  telegrams  poured  from  Lasalle,  Ottawa, 
Grundy  and  elswhere,  tendering  companies  already  formed,  to  the 
"  Irish  Brigade,"  and  within  a  week,  there  were  twelve  hundred 
Irishmen  ready  for  the  service  for  any  length  of  time. 

But  it  was  the  era  of  caution,  and  slow  movements.  The  War 
Department  only  saw  rebel  armies  "  as  trees  walking."  The  quota 
of  Illinois  was  full  and  no  more  troops  would  be  accepted !  The 
announcement  was  disappointing  and  mortifying.  The  Governor 
could  do  nothing.  Those  interested  in  the  regiment  sent  Mr.  Mulli 
gan  at  once  to  Washington  to  tender  it  to  the  President  for  any  ser 
vice.  It  was  accepted  May  17,  1861. 

Mulligan  returned  from  Washington,  secured  "  Kane's  Brewery  " 
and  converted  it  into  a  barracks,  that  was  known  while  occupied  by 
the  regiment  as  "Fontenoy  Barracks."  The  organization  also 
adopted  the  name  of  the  "  Irish  Brigade."  Its  title  on  the  official 
rolls  is  "  23d  Illinois  Infantry."  The  result  of  the  election  of 
officers  was  as  follows  : 

Colonel,  James  A.  Mulligan  ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  James  Quirk;  Major,  Charles  E. 
Moor ;  Chaplain,  T.  J.  Butler,  D.  D.  ;  Surgeon,  W.  D.  Winer ;  Quartermaster,  Thos. 
I.  Ray  ;  Adjutant,  Lieutenant  James  F.  Cosgrove. 

1st.  Detroit  Jackson  Guards — Captain,  P.  McDermott ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  F. 
Cosgrove ;  2d  Lieutenant,  P.  J.  McDermott. 

2d.  Montgomery  Guards — Captain,  Michael  Gleeson ;  1st  Lieutenant,  D.  W. 
Quirk  ;  2d  Lieutenant,  Ed.  Murray. 


568  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

3d.  Chicago  Jackson  Guards— Captain,  Francis  McMurray  ;  2d  Lieutenant,  Robt, 
Adams. 

4th.  Earl  Rifles — Captain,  S.  A.  Simison  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  T.  D.  McClure  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  James  Hudson. 

5th.  Ogden  Rifles — Captain,  Frank  K.  Hulburt ;  1st  Lieutenant,  George  D. 
Kellogg  ;  2d  Lieutenant,  H.  -'ease. 

6th.  Douglas  Guards — Captain,  D.  P.  Moriarty;  1st  Lieutenant,  L.  Collins;  2d 
Lieutenant,  P.  O'Kane. 

7th.  O'Mahony  Rifles — Captain,  I.  C.  Phillips;  1st  Lieutenant,  J.  A.  Hynes  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Martin  Wallace. 

8th.  Ottowa  City  Guards — Captain,  Charles  Coffey;  1st  Lieutenant,  T.  Hickey ; 
2d  Lieutenant,  Thomas  J.  Ray. 

9th.  Shields  Guards  (A) — Captain,  James  J*  Fitzgerald ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Wm. 
Shanley ;  2d  Lieutenant,  P.  Ryan, 

10th.  Shield's  Guards  (C) — Captain,  D.  Quirk  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  Lane  ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Owen  Cunningham. 

It  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  by  Captain 
Pitcher,  U.  S.  A.,  on  the  15th  day  of  June,  1861.  The  14th  of 
July  following,  Colonel  Mulligan  received  marching  orders  to 
Quincy,  Illinois,  thence  to  the  Arsenal  at  St.  Louis,  and  on  the  21st 
day  of  July  his  men  were  fully  armed  and  equipped  at  that  point. 
On  the  22d,  seven  companies  were  ordered  to  Jefferson  City,  Mo., 
and  arrived  there  the  same  day  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
Mulligan,  to  protect  the  Legislature.  The  other  companies  soon  fol 
lowed. 

On  the  31st  of  August,  1861,  Colonel  Mulligan  was  ordered  by 
Major-General  John  C.  Fremont,  to  take  post  at  Lexington,  a  young 
city  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Missouri  River.  September  1st  the 
23d  left  Jefferson  City  and  arrived  at  Lexington.  Colonel  Mulligan 
commenced  at  once  to  fortify  an  elevated  hill  known  as  the  College 
Hill.  But  few  hours  were  allowed  him  to  erect  entrenchments. 
The  details  of  the  siege,  and  the  gallant,  though  unsuccessful  defence 
are  given  elsewhere,  with  as  much  circumstantiality  as  is  possible  in 
the  limits  of  this  volume.  The  officers* and  men  'fought  well,  but 
were  overpowered  by  numbers  and  thirst. 

The  enlisted  men  were  paroled  by  General  Price,  and  in  ten  days 
afterwards  the  commissioned  officers  of  the  whole  command  were 
likewise  paroled  and  permitted  to  return  to  their  homes.  Colonel 
Mulligan  alone  refused  to  accept  a  parole  from  the  rebel  chief,  and 


THE    TWENTY-THIRD    RE-MUSTERED.'  569 

remained  a  prisoner  with  General  Price  during  his  retreat  south 
ward  into  Arkansas  and  the  famous  crossing  of  the  Osage.  The 
enlisted  men  of  the  regiment  arriving  at  St.  Louis  without  officers, 
it  was  ordered  to  muster  them  out  of  the  United  States  service  by 
Major- General  Curtis.  Weeks  passed  on,  the  members  of  the  regi 
ment  were  scattered  over  the  country ;  some  returned  to  their  homes, 
some  enlisted  in  other  regiments,  and  some  waited  the  return  of  their 
captured  chief,  that  they  might  enroll  themselves  under  his  banner. 
Colonel  Mulligan  was  exchanged  for  Colonel,  afterwards  Major- 
General,  Bowen.  The  ovations  he  received  at  every  point,  fully 
proved  the  high  esteem  in  which  the  people  held  him.  But  his  first 
care  was  his  old  regiment.  Upon  his  release  from  captivity  he  im 
mediately  proceeded  to  Washington  and  asked  of  the  President  the 
revoking  of  the  "  muster  out  "  of  the  "  Brigade."  The  regiment 
was  restored  by  order  of  Major-General  McClellan,  and  ordered  to 
fill  up  the  maximum.  The  head-quarters  were  established  in  Camp 
Douglas,  Chicago.  Many  of  the  men  that  enlisted  in  other  regi 
ments  returned  to  their  old  commander,  and  recruits  came  in  rapidly. 
At  the  same  time  Colonel  Mulligan  received  permission  to  recruit  a 
battery  of  light  artillery  to  be  attached  to  his  regiment.  It  was  so 
recruited,  attached  to  the  regiment,  and  has  done  good  service  with 
the  Brigade  during  a  long  campaign  in  Western  Virginia.  This 
battery  is  known  in  the  field  as  the  "  Mulligan  Battery,"  or  "  Mulli 
gan's  Cross  Band  " — officially,  as  Battery  "  L,"  1st  Illinois  Light 
Artillery. 

On  the  14th  day  of  June,  1862,  up  to  which  time  Colonel  Mulli 
gan  commanded  at  Camp  Douglas,  he  was  ordered  with  his  regi 
ment  to  Annapolis,  en  route  by  Harper's  Ferry.  The  "  Brigade  "  was 
detained  by  the  Secretary  of  War  at  that  place,  it  then  being 
threatened  by  the  enemy,  but  remained  only  a  few  days  at  the  post. 
Major-General  Wool  then  commanded  the  Middle  Department  within 
whose  limits,  at  New  Creek,  Virginia,  a  large  depot  of  govern 
ment  stores,  was  situated.  The  place  was  threatened  by  the  rebel 
General  Ewell.  General  Wool  ordered  Colonel  Mulligan  to  de 
fend  it. 

The  Irish  Brigade  arrived  at  New  Creek,  Va.,  on  the  24th  of  June, 
1862.  Colonel  Mulligan  proceeded  at  once  to  establish  means  of 


570  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS. 

defense.  A  defensive  work  which  he  called  Fort  Fuller,  in  honor  of 
the  Adjutant- Gen  oral  of  Illinois,  was  constructed,  commanding  the 
New  Creek  Valley.  During  the  last  days  of  September,  1862, 
Colonel  Mulligan  moved  with  the  23d  to  protect  Clarksburg,  Va., 
menaced  by  the  rebel  General  Jenkins.  Parkersburg,  Va.,  on  the 
Ohio  River,  was  threatened  at  the  same  time.  By  rapid  movements 
both  towns  were  saved  from  the  rebel  raiders. 

In  November,  the  23d  was  ordered  to  attack  Imboden  who  was 
raiding  the  country.  His  camp  was  reached  November  10,  1862, 
and  in  a  gallant  dash  his  force  was  scattered  to  the  mountains. 
The  result  was  forty  prisoners  and  several  hundred  head  of  cattle. 
On  the  20th  of  January,  1863,  Colonel  Washburn  commanding  some 
Ohio  troops  at  Moorefield,  Va.,  was  reported  attacked  by  a  superior 
force  under  General  Jones.  Colonel  Mulligan  moved  to  his  support, 
and  after  a  forced  march  of  forty  miles  in  nineteen  hours,  arrived  at 
Moorefield  with  his  regiment  and  the  "  Mulligan  Battery."  Jones 
hearing  of  reinforcements  abandoned  his  position  and  fell  back  on 
the  south  fork  of  the  Potomac.  Mulligan  followed  in  pursuit  at 
midnight  and  entered  the  enemy's  camp  at  daybreak.  General 
Jones  had  fled.  The  command  fell  back  to  Moorefield,  rested  one 
day,  and  returned  to  its  old  camping  ground  at  New  Creek.  On 
April  3,  1863,  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  5th  brigade,  1st 
Division,  8th  Army  Corps.  The  command  of  the  brigade  was  given 
to  Colonel  Mulligan. 

While  commanding  the  5th  brigade  the  conflict  at  Philippi  and 
Fairmount  was  lost  from  want  of  adequate  force  to  cover  that 
long  line,  while  other  points  as  valuable  were  saved,  the  most 
important  being  Grafton  at  the  junction  of  the  branches  of  the  Bal 
timore  &  Ohio  Railroad. 

About  the  25th  of  April,  one  company  of  the  regiment,  Company 
"  G,"  commanded  by  Captain  Wallace,  was  attacked  at  Greenland 
Gap.  The  gallant  Captain  took  possession  of  a  church  near  the 
gap  and  made  a  stand.  Three  thousand  cavalry  commanded  by 
General  Jones,  charged  some  four  times  unsuccessfully.  That  gal 
lant  little  band,  held  its  own  ThermopylaB  for  five  long  hours,  empty 
ing  many  a  traitor's  saddle.  "  Night  came  on,  and  what  failed  by 
strength  of  arms  was  accomplished  by  treachery.  The  darkness 


GEEENLAND  GAP  AND  CHEEKY  EUN.  571 

preventing  the  movements  of  the  enemy  from  being  discovered,  the 
church  was  set  on  fire,  and  not  until  the  fresh  burning  brands  fell 
on  those  brave  heads  was  a  thought  of  surrender  received.  The 
roof  cracked,  the  flames  hissed,  and  the  demons  of  treason  shouted 
outside  in  derision  of  their  victims.  Capt,  Wallace  ordered  his 
men  to  throw  their  arms  and  accoutrements  into  the  burning  tim 
bers,  and,  as  he  himself,  the  last  man,  left  the  spot,  the  burning  roof 
crumbled  to  the  ground.  The  captured  command  was  sent  to  Rich 
mond,  but  exchanged  in  some  months  after,  and  rejoined  their  regi 
ment  to  the  delight  of  their  comrades. 

After  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  had  been  fought,  it  was  supposed 
that  the  rebels  would  attempt  a  crossing  at  a  ford  near  Hancock, 
Md.  General  B.  F.  Kelley  commanding  the  department  of  West 
Virginia,  was  ordered  to  that  point  with  all  the  available  force  at 
his  disposal. 

A  manuscript  before  us,  says  : 

"  Colonel  Mulligan  moved  with  a  brigade  of  infantry,  some 
cavalry  and  artillery,  on  the  6th  of  July,  and  arrived  at  Hancock  on 
the  evening  of  the  7th.  Troops  from  other  portions  of  General 
Kelley's  command  to  the  number  of  about  five  thousand,  arrived  on 
the  same  day.  General  Kelley  in  person  was  upon  the  ground.  The 
command  of  all  the  forces  was  given  to  Colonel  Mulligan.  In  a  few 
days  he  advanced  to  Cherry  Run,  on  the  Potomac,  crossed  the 
swollen  river  by  the  aid  of  a  few  rafts,  and  engaged  Hampton's 
North  Carolina  Legion  of  Lee's  army  near  Hedgesville.  The  ad 
vance  and  expected  assistance  of  General  Mead  was  anxiously 
looked  for,  but  while  Lee's  army  marched  west  of  the  Blue  Ridge, 
with  no  opposing  forces  but  Kelley's  under  Mulligan,  in  the  valley, 
General  Mead  moved  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  east  of  that  range 
of  mountains.  Mulligan's  force  was  thus  compelled  to  fall  back 
across  the  Potomac,  thereby  preventing  him  from  taking  part  in 
what  all  supposed  would  be  the  utter  annihilation  of  the  rebel  army 
of  Virginia, 

"  Lee  having  made  good  his  retreat,  General  Kelley  ordered  Colo 
nel  Mulligan  to  recross  the  Potomac,  strike  the  northwestern  turn 
pike,  and  march  to  Burlington,  Va.,  via  Romney.  Arrived  at  this 
point,  Colonel  Mulligan  moved  with  the  old  5th  Brigade  of  which 


572  PATRIOTISM   OF    ILLINOIS 

the  23d  Illinois  formed  a  part,  to  Petersburg,  Va.  This  being  an 
advanced  and  dangerous  post  Colonel  Mulligan  fortified  it  by  con 
structing  Fort  Mulligan. 

"  On  September  4th,  the  Irish  boys,  under  the  immediate  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Mulligan,  engaged  and  routed  the  enemy  under 
Imboden  in  the  gap  of  Petersburg.  September  llth,  Captains 
Fitzgerald  and  Wallace  attacked  the  rebel  forces  of  the  guerrilla 
McNeal,  on  the  south  fork  near  Moorefield,  Va.,  driving  them  in 
confusion  to  the  mountains.  October  25,  1862,  the  2d  division  of 
the  department  of  West  Virginia  was  organized.  Colonel  Mulli 
gan  was  assigned  to  the  command.  His  regiment  was  assigned  to 
the  2d  brigade  of  the  same  and  was  stationed  at  Petersburg,  while 
the  Colonel  was  ordered  to  take  up  his  head-quarters  at  New  Creek, 
West  Virginia,  November  8th.  The  same  year  the  regiment  moved 
to  the  support  of  General  Averill,  who  engaged  and  defeated  the 
rebel  General  Echols  at  Lewisburg,  Greenbrier  Co.,  Va,,  Decem 
ber  9th.  Imboden  again  fled  before  the  threatening  bayonets  of 
the  Irish  Brigade.  In  January  and  February,  1864,  he  had  heavy 
skirmishing  with  the  advance  of  the  rebel  columns.  On  February 
4th  Colonel  Mulligan  moved  on  Moorfield  with  800  cavalry  and  two 
pieces  of  artillery.  The  rebels  were  driven  out  of  this  city  and 
were  pursued  some  six  miles  south  of  the  place  by  Colonel  Mulli 
gan.  Early's  object  being  clearly  to  retire  into  the  valley  of  Virgina, 
Colonel  Mulligan  returned  to  New  Creek.  The  23d  took  possession 
of  Greenland  Gap,  the  key  of  the  Northwestern  Turnpike." 

General  Fitzhugh  Lee  who  had  seriously  threatened  the  brigade, 
found  it  impossible  to  make  headway  amid  the  winter  desolations 
about  him,  and  retired,  sending  word  by  a  private  citizen  saying : 
"  Present  my  compliments  to  Col.  Mulligan,  and  tell  him  the  severity 
of  the  weather  will  not  allow  me  to  call  at  this  time."  The  Colonel's 
answer  was,  "Present  my  compliments  to  Gen.  Lee  and  say,  '  do  not 
allow  the  severity  of  the  weather  to  detain  him,  for  I  will  be  happy 
to  furnish  a  hot  fire  on  his  arrival.'  "  The  invitation  was  not  accepted. 

On  the  23d  of  April  the  "brigade"  arrived  in  Chicago  for  the  pur 
pose  of  re-enlisting  as  veterans  and  marched  to  Camp  Fry.  It  came 
with  the  laurels  of  Moorefield,  Greenland  Gap,  Gettysburg,  Williams- 
port,  Hedgesville,  Petersburg  Gap,  etc.,  on  its  banners,  and  its  ranks 


WINCHESTER.  573 

reduced  from  800  to  350  fighting  men,  told  how  hardly  war  had 
borne  upon  it.  After  the  expiration  of  the  veteran  furlough  it  re 
turned  to  the  field,  and  formed  part  of  General  Hunter's  army  in 
Western  Virginia.  At  6  p.  M.,  Saturday,  the  23d  of  July,  its  participa 
tion  in  the  battle  of  Winchester  commenced,  Mulligan's  division  of 
infantry  being  ordered  forward  from  Stone  Mills  to  Kerntown  to 
support  the  cavalry.  It  accomplished  the  purpose  of  the  advance, 
and  under  orders  fell  back  into  its  original  position.  Sunday  morn 
ing,  the  24th,  the  conflict  was  renewed.  Under  orders  from  General 
Crook,  Mulligan's  division  advanced  to  occupy  a  position  from  which 
Col.  Harris's  brigade  had  been  driven  by  superior  force.  Genera1. 
Crook  supposed  the  enemy  to  be  but  a  small  force,  and  formed  in 
line  of  battle,  with  Mulligan's  division  in  the  center.  Advancing  at 
3£  P.  M.,  into  an  open  country,  suddenly  the  enemy's  line  of  battle, 
bristling  with  bayonets  and  frowning  terribly  with  artillery  was  dis 
played,  and  the  Union  force  found  itself  face  to  face  with  Lieut. - 
General  Early's  entire  command,  numbering  30,000,  which  stretched 
a  mile  beyond  our  front,  and  threatening  to  surround  it.  This  was 
the  force  supposed  to  be  in  full  retreat !  Of  course  the  order  was 
given  to  fall  back. 

In  the  hot  engagement  which  became  necessary  to  check  the 
enemy's  advance,  the  23d  did  nobly,  and  it  was  in  this  storm  of  bat 
tle  that  its  gallant  Colonel  fell  mortally  wounded  and  was  captured 
by  the  enemy.  Here,  too,  Lieut.  Nugent,  Mrs.  Mulligan's  brother,  fell 
while  endeavoring  to  bring  off  his  commander  and  brother-in-law. 

Since  then  the  "Irish  brigade"  has  been  in  constant  service. 
They  are  brave  men,  and  have  worthily  placed  the  harp  and  the 
shamrock  on  the  azure  field  of  our  national  flag. 

Brigadier-General  James  A.  Mulligan,  the  popular  Colonel  of  the 
Irish  Brigade,  was  not  born  in  Ireland  as  is  generally  supposed,  but 
in  Utica,  New  York,  June  21, 1830.  His  parents  were  Irish,  and  he 
considered  himself  in  faith  and  national  feeling,  a  true  son  of  the 
Emerald  Isle.  He  came  to  Chicago  when  he  was  but  six  years  old, 
and  it  was  a  mere  village.  He  was  the  first  graduate  from  the  Uni 
versity  of  St.  Mary's  of  the  Lake,  receiving  in  June,  1850,  the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts. 

After  a  year  spent  with  Judge  Dickey  in  the  study  of  Law,  his 


574  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

love  of  adventure  led  him  to  accompany  Stevens,  the  noted  traveler, 
in  his  South  American  expedition.  Returning  he  continued  the 
study  of  law,  editing  in  the  meantime  the  Western  Tablet,  a  Catho 
lic  weekly  paper.  In  1855  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  contin 
ued  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  the  commencement  of 
the  war,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  months  spent  in  the  Indian 
Bureau.  He  had  a  military  taste,  and  was  connected  with  the 
Shields'  Guards,  of  which  he  had  command  for  a  time. 

He  was  an  ardent  democrat,  and  a  warm  personal  admirer  as  well 
as  political  friend  of  Senator  Douglas.  He  was  a  ready  and  popular 
speaker  whose  services  were  in  frequent  demand  in  the  city  and  else 
where.  His  adhesion  to  the  country  as  represented  by  the  adminis 
tration  had  much  influence. 

In  the  sketch  of  the  regiment  and  the  account  of  the  siege  of 
Lexington,*  his  activity  in  organizing  the  regiment,  securing  its 
acceptance,  and  his  service  as  its  commander,  have  been  sketched. 
He  was  devoted  to  his  regiment,  and  when  it  was  thrown  out  of  ser 
vice,  and  he  was  in  Washington  to  secure  justice  for  it,  the  Presi 
dent  tendered  him  a  brigade  which  he  refused,  because  it  would 
throw  the  23d  out  of  service.  When  he  secured  its  re-acceptance, 
he  desired  to  share  all  its  fortunes  and  did  so  to  the  last. 

In  his  command  at  New  Creek,  great  responsibilities  were  upon 
him  in  command  of  brigade,  division,  and  virtually  of  a  department, 
and  well  and  nobly  he  acquitted  himself,  sealing  finally  his  devotion 
with  his  blood.  He  loved  his  Irish  Brigade  intensely  and  was  proud 
of  his  men,  yet  never  ungenerously  so,  as  his  references  to  other 
troops  show.  His  mind  was  one  of  rare  delicacy  and  culture.  He 
had  a  keen  critical  perception  which  would  have  won  him  eminence 
in  literary  criticism. 

In  the  copies  of  his  correspondence  before  us,  we  have  smiled  at 
the  brilliancy  of  his  wit,  and  been  melted  to  tears  by  the  tenderness 
of  his  affections.  There  is  everywhere  the  unaffected  culture  of  the 
scholar,  and  the  warm  affection  of  the  Irish  heart. 

From  the  many,  a  few  extracts  are  given : 

*  A  letter  from  Col.  Mulligan  written  March  27th  1862,  says:  "I  did  not  enter 
Lexington  until  the  9th  of  September  last,  assuming  command  on  the  10th." 


CORRESPONDENCE.  575 

"MARCH  31,  1862. 

"  To  LTEUT.  QUINN  MORTON  :  — I  hope  to  meet  them  somewhere  in  Arkansas,  beyond 
Pea  Ridge,  the  land  of  beautiful  water,  corn-bread  and  two  meals  a  day — the  land 
of  the  ubiquitous  Price. 

"  The  brigade  is  flourishing.  I  hope  to  be  ordered  to  St.  Louis  in  two  or  three 
weeks.  I  will  move  with  about  800  men.  May  we  meet — the  23d  Missouri  and  the 
23d  Illinois,  ordered  to  charge  a  breastwork  together — may  the  day  come,  and 
quickly  !  Good-by,  Colonel ;  God  be  with  you. 

"  '  Strike  till  the  last  armed  foe  expires/ 
"Avenging  Lexington  and  our  native  land." 

He  had  been  invited  to  deliver  an  address  on  the  topics  of  the  day, 
and  thus  responded  from  his  headquarters  at  Petersburg,  West  Vir 
ginia,  October  8,  1863  : 

"In  reply  to  your  letter  of  the  6th  inst.,  inviting  me  to  address  the  citizens  of 
your  district  on  the  war  and  its  issues,  permit  me  to  say  that  I  am  now  under  an 
engagement  which  I  am  unwilling  to  disregard — to  address  the  enemy  of  this  dis 
trict  on  the  same  subject. 

"The  real  rostrum  of  the  day  is  the  rifle-pit.  And  therein  we  are  pleading  for 
the  inviolability  of  the  Union  with  Enfield  rifles  ;  we  are  arguing  for  the  continued 
honor  and  nationally  of  our  government  with  6-pounders. 

"  Argument  by  mere  words  has  failed  and  been  refused  by  our  adversaries,  who 
are  active,  resolute  men,  despising  rhetoric,  but  yielding  due  respect  to  the  argu 
ment  of  ball  and  saber. 

"By  your  kind  belief  that  my  words  would  have  weight  with  your  citizens,  I  am 
honored.  I  offer  them  example  in  place  of  speech." 

He  was  desirous  that  the  sons  of  what  he  considered  his  nationality 
should  stand  by  the  country.  He  wrote,  and  spoke,  and  urged  this. 
Writing  from  New  Creek,  West  Virginia,  December  21,  1863,  he 
said : 

"  I  see  by  the  Times  that  the  war  spirit  is  again  filling  Chicago  with  meetings 
speeches  and  subscriptions.  You  must  co-operate  with  this  healthy  fever,  and  aid 
in  pressing  forward  this  redeeming  work. 

"  Write  me  particularly  of  the  feeling  among  the  Irishmen  at  the  present  time  on 
the  subject  of  enlistment ;  and  if  there  be  a  hesitancy  among  them,  from  what  it 
arises. 

"You  must  educate  the  Irish  sentiment.  You  must  impress  it  upon  all  Irishmen 
that  the  future  of  two  countries,  the  freedom,  and  the  glory,  and  the  happiness  of 
two  countries  are  involved  in  this  struggle.  WORK  HARD." 

Again,  still  more  strongly  and  eloquently  did  he  push  this  matter 
in  a  letter  to  a  brother  officer,  written  a  little  later : 


576  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

"I  have  noticed  with  pain  Mr.  Smith  O'Brien's  letters  regarding  this  struggle.  I 
am  unwilling  to  believe  they  represent  Irish  sentiment  at  home,  and  I  am  confident 
they  are  working  mischief  to  Irish  interests  abroad.  Ingratitude  does  not  accord 
with  the  Irish  character,  and  it  would  be  well  for  Mr.  O'Brien  to  remember  that  the 
flag  he  now  charges  with  covering  injustice,  cruelty  and  oppression,  a  few  years 
ago  waved  over  the  splendid  freights  of  the  Jamestown  and  the  Macedon — offerings 
of  peace  and  good  will  from  this  Union  to  his  and  our  starving  countrymen.  It 
would  be  well  for  Mr.  O'Brien,  before  denouncing  the  flag  and  the  cause  of  the 
American  Union — before  endeavoring  to  divorce  the  Irish  heart  from  the  hearts  of 
this  people — to  look  calmly  about  and  see  where,  on  all  this  earth,  he  will  find  such 
another  land  of  shelter,  food,  protection  and  appreciation,  when  again  the  scourge 
of  God  and  England  lie  heavily  on  Ireland." 

It  was  matter  of  surprise  that  so  active  an  officer,  and  one  en 
trusted  with  so  grave  responsibility  as  the  prolonged  command  of  a 
brigade  and  then  a  division,  should  only  wear  the  ensignia  of  a  Colonel. 
Hon.  Mr.  Arnold  spoke  of  it  warmly,  saying,  "that  promotion  ought 
to  have  been  given."  Yet  it  was  delayed  until  he  who  had  won  it 
was  among  the  glorious  dead,  and  then  only  a  brevet.  How  he  treat 
ed  the  matter  will  be  seen : 

"Promoted!  Lord  bless  you,  no.  There  ia  not  the  glimmer  of  a 'star' in  my 
horizon.  I  have  a  big  command,  a  little  rank  and  a  contented  mind  ;  or,  speaking 
after  the  manner  of  godliness  [he  was  writing  to  a  priest],  I  have  a  diocese  but  am 
no  Bishop,  wear  the  chapeau  rouge  but  am  not  a  cardinal." 

"My  DEAR  CAPTAIN: — Your  term  of  service,  like  my  own,  is  drawing  to  a  close  ; 
what  have  you  determined  on  for  the  next  three  years  ?  Not  soured,  I  trust,  be 
cause  a  crowd  of  miserable  tricksters,  who,  though  without  record  in  the  field,  have 
yet  friends  in  Congress,  and  have  passed  you  in  promotion.  Don't  mind  it.  The 
country  will  yet  think  better  of  the  men  who  have  slowly  fought  their  way,  than  of 
the  men  who  quickly  purchased  it.  The  revolution  has  commenced,  and  already 
the  political  heroes  who  relied  upon  their  ornamental  shoulders  for  the  conduct  of 
campaigns,  have  found  that  brains,  skill  and  management  are  ingredients  as  neces 
sary  for  the  war  as  'stars'  and  'eagles.' 

"In  this  hope,  bide  your  time,  and  'strike  till  the  last  armed  foe  expires,'  and  if 
our  country  never  remembers  us,  yet  our  conscience  will  applaud.  So,  full  of  faith 
in  our  cause,  full  of  hope  for  our  country,  full  of  animation  to  cheer  our  comrades, 
full  of  courage  to  strike  the  foe,  full  of  charity  to  forgive  him,  fallen,  let  us  go  for 
ward  tO  VICTORY,  UNITY,  HAPPINESS." 

These  utterances  were  not  written  for  the  public,  but  were  the 
unstudied  utterances  of  confidential  friendship.  They  give  the  very 
inside  life  of  this  noble  young  soldier.  One  extract  has  in  it  so 


THE    EOMANCE    OF    WAS.  577 

much  of  the  spirit  of  justice,  and  exhibits  his  love  of  honest,  fair 
dealing  so  strongly  that  we  give  it  place : 

"COLONEL: — The  bearer  (colored  man)  informs  me  that  he  paid  the  wagon-master 
of  train  arriving  from  Petersburg,  West  Virginia,  last  evening,  six  dollars  to  bring 
him  to  this  post.  I  know  of  no  order  authorizing  such  exaction,  nor  permitting 
wagon-masters  to  use  the  government  trains  for  private  profit.  The  money  belongs 
to  the  government  or  the  negro — I  think  the  negro.  I  desire  you  to  cause  an  inves 
tigation,  do  justice  and  permit  no  recurrence  of  these  wrongs.  The  act  should  have 
been  done  as  a  charity  or  let  alone." 

There,  is  another  class  of  letters  before  us.  The  romance  of  war 
was  developed  in  his  life.  His  young  wife  accompanied  him  in  his 
campaigns,  and  if  not  on  the  field  was  near  it  with  her  little  ones. 
His  letters  and  telegrams  to  his  family  evince  a  depth  of  tenderness 
and  intensity  of  affection  rarely  equaled.  The  relations  01'  home 
and  family  are  too  sacred  to  be  needlessly  paraded.  Sometimes  it 
was  simply  a  telegraphic  "  God  bless  you,  darling,"  and  sometimes, 
sending  his  love  to  his  babes,  whom  he  loved  ardently. 

When  Col.  Mulligan  returned  to  Chicago,  after  his  Lexington- >cap-. 
tivity,  he  received  a  grand  ovation.  When  the  "  brigade "  was . 
dropped  from  the  army  rolls  he  sought  and  secured  its  restoration, 
and  an  order  from  General  McClellan  declaring  the  regiment  to  have 
been  continuously  in  the  service  of  the  United  States.  He  delivered 
a  series  of  addresses  in  principal  cities  which  increased  the  martial 
spirit. 

After  the  re-enlistment  of  his  regiment  and  its  return  to  Virginia, 
his  life  was  one  of  ceaseless  activity.  He  desired  to  see  the  rebellion 
crushed,  and  believed  it  could  only  be  done  by  fighting,  hence  he 
shunned  no  opportunity  of  coming  face  to. face  with  the  foe. 

He  fell  at  the  battle  of  Winchester,  July  25, 1864.  He  moved  his 
men  into  the  engagement  in  splendid  style,  driving  the  rebel  skir 
mishers  before  him,  and  ascertaining  his  strength.  In  the  fight  on 
Sunday,  he  commanded  a  division.  A  correspondent  of  the  New 
York  Tribune  says :  "  Col.  Mulligan  was  especially  conspicuous  for 
his  bravery.  With  his  hat  off,  and  sitting  erect  in  his  saddle,  he 
cheered  his  men  on,  perfectly  regardless  of  the  storm  of  bullets 
striking  around  him.  Although  cautioned  repeatedly  by  the  staff 
officers,  that  he  was  recognized  by  the  enemy's  sharp-shooters,  he 

37 


578  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

still  persisted  in  remaining  mounted,  and  in  keeping  in  the  extreme 
advance  of  his  command. 

At  length  a  minnie  ball  struck  him  in  the  thigh  and  he  fell.  His 
staff  gathered  about  him,  and  his  men  of  the  Irish  brigade,  with 
swimming  eyes,  planted  their  colors  near  him,  and  encircling  him, 
determined  to  carry  him  from  the  field.  His  wife's  brother,  the 
brave  young  Lieutenant  Nugent,  was  killed  in  the  attempt.  The 
Colonel  told  them  not  to  "lose  the  colors  of  the  Irish  brigade." 
Finding  his  life  ebbing,  and  seeing  the  foe  nearing,  came  his  last 
command,  one  made  immortal,  "  Lay  me  down  and  save  the  flag." 
He  died  the  next  day. 

The  news  was  flashed  to  Mrs.  Mulligan,  at  Martinsburg,  and  she 
started  instantly  for  the  field.  Lieut. -General  Early  gave  permission 
to  her  and  her  escort,  Lieut.  Russell,  and  ordered  that  "  all  officers 
will  render  Mrs.  Mulligan  such  assistance  as  may  be  in  their  power  in 
reaching  Gen.  Mulligan  and  ministering  to  his  comfort,  or  in  obtaining 
his  body  and  effects."  She  was  taken  to  the  house  of  Henry  M.  Brent, 
in  Winchester,  where  his  remains  were  brought  from  Kernstown 
and  seen  by  her.  Mrs  Mulligan  traveled  day  and  night  more  than 
a  hundred  miles.  Procuring  a  coffin,  she  brought  the  remains  in  the 
ambulance,  which  had  been  her  conveyance,  to  Hancock,  and  then  by 
rail  to  Cumberland,  and  thence  to  Chicago. 

The  remains  lay  in  state  in  Bryan  Hall,  wThere  they  were  visited  by 
thousands.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Chicago  bar,  Hon.  I.  N.  Arnold, 
representative  in  Congress,  said : 

"You  will  remember  how,  in  1861,  the  whole  country  rang  with  his  gallant  defense 
•of  Lexington.  On  the  20th  of  December  the  following  resolution  was  adopted 
unanimously  by  the  House  of  Representatives : 

"  'Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  be  presented  Col.  James  A.  Mulligan  and 
the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command  who  bravely  stood  by  him,  against  a 
greatly  superior  force,  in  his  heroic  defense  of  Lexington.' 

«#  #  #  He  never  complained.  Injustice  was  done  him.  Honors  bravely  and 
fairly  earned  were  withheld,  yet  uninfluenced  by  the  example  of  men  in  high  posi 
tion,  he  faithfully  and  patiently  performed  his  duty  as  a  soldier  and  uttered  no  word 
of  complaint." 

His  funeral  was  one  of  the  most  imposing  ever  seen  on  the  shores 
of  the  lake  whose  voice  he  so  dearly  loved.  Vast  multitudes 
•thronged  the  streets — the  long  procession  wound  its  way  to  the  tomb 


THE    YATES    PHALANX.  579 

amid  the  tolling  of  bells,  the  slow  beat  of  "  funeral  drums,"  and  the 
booming  of  signal  guns.  Flags  floated  at  half-mast  and  each  one 
seemed  to  repeat  the  dying  hero's  last  words. 

In  the  cathedral  of  St.  Mary's  the  requiem  of  the  Solemn  High 
M'iss  was  sung,  and  the  prayer  intoned  by  Dr.  Butler,  his  friend  and 
former  chaplain,  after  which  there  was  an  eloquent  funeral  discourse 
by  Rev.  Dr.  McMullen.  As  the  procession  wound  its  way  the  stores 
w<  re  seen  draped  in  mourning.  He  sleeps  the  sleep  of  a  brave  man  ! 

Brave  young  Nugent!  His  grave  is  unknown.  He,. too,  died 
bravely,  nobly. 

THE  THIRTY-NINTH  INFANTRY. 

Another  regiment  of  the  best  class  of  men  compelled  to  dance 
attendance  upon  the  War  Department,  and  literally  to  beg  its  way 
into  service,  was  the  "  Yates  Phalanx,"  or  39th  infantry,  organized 
in  Chicago.  Its  officers  incurred  heavy  expense  from  the  law's 
delay,  the  tenacity  of  the  red-tape,  and  not  least,  the  engrossing  idea 
that  the  "  disturbance  would  soon  be  put  down,'"  and  that  too  many 
troops  would  be  uneconomical.  It  failed  to  secure  acceptance  under 
the  "  six-regiment  bill."  It  retained  its  primary  organization  and 
continued  its  drill,  hoping  to  have  the  privilege  of  fighting  under  the 
"ten-regiment  bill,"  but  that  contained  provisions  fatal  to  its  hope. 
Only  one  company  could  be  accepted  from  Cook  county,  and  the 
men,  sick  and  tired,  disbanded  and  went  home. 

The  officers  believed  more  men  would  be  wanted,  and  retained 
their  skeleton  organization  and  forwarded  a  messenger  to  knock  at 
Mr.  Cameron's  door,  which  he  did  unsuccessfully.  They  sent 
another,  Captain  O.  L.  Mann,  who  was  also  unsuccessful  for  a  time, 
but  while  he  was  arguing  the  case,  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  occurred, 
and  the  next  day  the  regiment  was  accepted.  The  work  of  recruit 
ing  was  resumed,  and  after  some  difficulty  the  regiment  was  mustered 
in  August,  1861,  and  officered  as  follows: 

Colonel,  Austin  Light ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Thomas  0.  Oaborn ;  Major,  Orrin  L. 
Mann  ;  Adjutant,  Frank  B.  Marshall ;  Quartermaster,  Joseph  A.  Cutler ;  Surgeon, 
Samuel  C.  Blake  ;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  Charles  M.  Clark  ;  2d  Assistant  Surgeon, 
William  Woodward;  Chaplain,  Charles  S.  Macreading. 

Co.  A — Captain,  Sylvester  W.  Munn ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Joseph  W.  Richerson;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Leroy  A.  Baker. 


580  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Co.  B— Captain,  Isaiah  W.  Wilmerth;  1st  Lieutenant,  David  F  Sellards ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  James  Haldeman. 

Co.  C— Captain,  John  Gray  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Wallace  Lord ;  2d  Lieutenant,  Si 
mon  S.  Brucker. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Samuel  S.  Linton  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Jonathan  F.  Linton  ;  2d  Lieu- 
tenant,Austin  Towner. 

Co.  E — Captain,  James  H.  Hooker ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Lewis  Whipple  ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Norman  C.  Warner. 

Co.  F — -Captain,  Amasa  Kennicott;  lat  Lieutenant,  John  W.  Mclntosh ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Patrick  Seary. 

Co.  G— Captain,  William  B.  Slaughter ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Oscar  F.  Rudd ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Amos  Savage. 

Co.  H— Captain,  Casper  S.  F.  Dericks ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Charles  J.  Wilder ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Charles  Flickenger. 

Co.  I — Captain,  Hiram  M.  Phillips  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Emory  L.  Waller ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Albert  W.  Fellows. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Joseph  Woodruff;  1st  Lieutenant,  Oscar  S.  Belcher ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Donald  A.  Nicholson. 

Colonel  Light  was  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  officers,  and  proved 
himself  a  successful  drill  officer.  Indeed,  the  rapid  improvement  of 
the  regiment  under  his  instruction,  was  observed  by  all.  His  previous 
service  in  the  regular  army  had  given  him  a  practical  knowledge  of 
military  routine.  On  the  llth  of  October  the  regiment  left  Chicago 
for  St.  Louis,  where  it  reported  at  Benton  Barracks.  Here  a  disap 
pointment  came.  The  regiment  was  organized  as  riflemen,  and  con 
tained  many  capital  marksmen,  whose  long  expected  rifles  proved  to 
be  old  muskets,  altered  from  flint  to  percussion. 

On  the  27th  the  Phalanx  left  Missouri  for  Williamsport,  Md.,  via 
Indianapolis,  Pittsburg  and  Harrisburg.  At  Williamsport  the 
measles  broke  out  in  a  malignant  form,  and  the  first  who  died  was 
Lieut.  Richardson,  from  Will  county. 

Amusing  scenes  occurred  there,  as  everywhere  in  drilling  raw 
recruits.  The  39th  had  its  share  of  men  of  quiet  mischief.  From 
Captain  Slaughter's  MSS.  lying  upon  our  table,  we  take  one  or  two 
extacts : 

"  The  officer  of  the  day,  one  morning,  instructed  the  guard  respecting  the  '  cour 
tesies'  due  the  officers.  One  of  them,  an  inveterate  wag,  though  a  good  soldier, 
misconstrued  the  instructions  for  his  own  fun.  He  waited  until  the  officer  ap 
proached  him,  when  with  a  half-roguish,  half-innocent  look,  he  dropped  a  low 
courtesy. 

"  'What  do  you  mean-?'  said  shoulder-straps. 


A  COUETESY — THE  COLONEL.  581 

"  '  Why,  sir,  I  was  told  that  when  an  officer  came  near  me,  I  must  kurchey,  and 
so  I  kurchied.' 

"  The  officer  good-naturedly  accepted  the  explanation,  and  gave  the  novice  further 
instruction  in  salutes." 

"  A  son  of  Erin  found  himself  doing  guard-duty  one  dark  night.  The  officer  of 
the  day,  making  the  Grand  Rounds,  approached  him. 

"  '  Halt !  who  comes  there  ?' 

" '  Grand  Rounds.' 

"  '  Go  to wid  yer  Grand  Rounds,'  said  Pat,  and  resumed  his  contemplative 

walk." 

"  I  had  been  out  of  the  camp  one  evening,  and  was  returning,  when  I  was  chal 
lenged — 

"  '  Halt !  who  comes  there  ?' 

"  Not  having  the  countersign,  I  answered,  '  A  friend.' 

"  The  indignant  answer  was,  '  Well,  if  y'er  a  friend,  what  you  standin  there  for  ? 
Why  don't  you  come  along  in  ?' 

"Of  course  this  afforded  an  opportunity  to  instruct  the  sentinel  in  his  duty." 

Suddenly  the  regiment  was  astounded  by  the  abrupt  announce 
ment  of  its  Colonel's  dismissal  from  service  on  some  technical  ground 
of  former  years.  He  had  become  greatly  beloved  and  his  removal 
was  a  sad  blow.  Lieut. -Colonel  Osborn  succeeded  to  the  command 
and  became  an  efficient  and  most  popular  officer. 

On  the  14th  of  December,  the  39th  was  armed  with  Springfield 
rifled  muskets,  greatly  to  the  delight  of  the  men.  On  the  17th  the 
regiment  moved  towards  Hancock,  via  Clear  Springs,  then  into  Vir 
ginia,  where  it  did  guard  duty  for  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad, 
and  valuable  scouting  service  in  the  vicinity  of  Bath. 

The  last  week  of  January,  the  39th  had  its  introduction  to  the 
forces  of  Stonewall  Jackson  in  a  sharp  skirmish,  in  which  Lieut. - 
Col.  Mann  narrowly  escaped  capture,  and  nine  men  were  captured. 
The  Union  forces  were  compelled  to  fall  back  from  Bath  before  the 
crushing  weight  of  Jackson's  columns.  A  daring  handful  of  the 
39th  lay  in  wait  at  one  point,  and  poured  into  the  advancing  column 
of  the  foe  marching  from  Bath  on  Alpine  Station,  a  deadly  fire, 
causing  it  to  fall  back  in  confusion.  Another  detachment  at  Great 
Cacapon  gallantly  resisted  the  advance  of  picked  men,  and  drove 
them  back.  The  retreat  continued  to  Hancock,  where  Gen.  Lander 
was  in  command.  Its  surrender  was  declined,  and  after  a  fruitless 
effort  to  bombard  it  the  enemy  raised  the  siege.  To  him  it  was  a 


582  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

fruitless  and  costly  effort  Subsequently,  the  39th  was  stationed  at 
New  Creek  where  sickness  raged  with  terrible  fury,  the  hospital  in 
Cumberland  was  crowded,  and  there  was  fearful  suffering. 

In  February  the  regiment  had  the  advance  in  the  movement  for 
opening  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  R.  R.  toward  Martinsburg.  General 
Lander  died.  General  Banks  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry, 
and  General  Williams  at  Williamsport,  and  the  grand  advance  upon 
the  Shenandoah  had  begun.  The  39th  was  in  the  advance  of  Shields's 
division,  and  on  the  llth  of  March  passed  through  Martinsburg, 
and  the  next  day  bivouacked  within  two  miles  of  Winchester,  from 
which  Jackson's  forces  retired.  That  wily  leader  had  his  own  plans, 
to  be  developed  all  too  soon. 

On  the  18th,  forward,  was  again  spoken,  and  the  39th,  part  of  the 
2d  brigade,  advanced  toward  Strasburg.  The  rebels  still  retreated. 
Strasburg  was  yielded,  and  then  our  troops  marched  back  to  Win 
chester.  On  the  22d  there  was  active  skirmishing,  during  which 
General  Shields  was  wounded  with  a  fragment  of  shell.  Shields's 
division  had  been  left  alone  in  the  valley  while  Banks  had  moved 
toward  Centerville.  Jackson  knew  this  and  sought  his  opportunity, 
and  moved  with  massed  strength,  to  crush  Shields's  command.  On 
the  23d  the  battle  raged  furiously,  and  night  came  down  upon  our 
brave  men  holding  the  field  in  spite  of  a  greatly  superior  force.  The 
39th  did  important  service,  but  chafed  that  it  did  not  come  directly 
into  the  fight.  The  morning  came,  the  forces  of  Jackson  had  re 
treated.  Our  forces  pursued  them  to  Strasburg. 

The  remainder  of  that  campaign  is  known ;  the  defeat  of  Kelley 
at  Front  Royal,  and  the  retreat  of  General  Banks  down  the  Shenan 
doah  Valley — a  retreat  admirably  conducted,  but  yet  a  retreat.  From 
thence  to  Suffolk,  September  1st,  where  it  remained  until  January 
5,  1863,  sharing  in  skirmishes  at  Black  Water,  Zurich  and  Franklin. 
January  19th  arrived  at  Newborn,  N.  C.,  and  on  the  25th  embarked 
at  Moorehead  City  on  transports,  sailing  with  the  Foster  expedition 
against  Charleston  February  1st,  it  was  landed  at  Hilton  Head,  and 
on  the  5th  at  Helena  Island.  April  1st  it  again  embarked,  and  on 
the  5th  landed  on  Folly  Island.  Here  it  witnessed  the  bombard 
ment  of  Sumter,  and  participated  in  the  siege  and  capture  of  Morris 
Island.  It  participated  in  the  siege  of  Charleston,  and  was  the  first 


MARCHES GENERAL    OSBORN.  583 

regiment  to  enter  Fort  Wagner,  Lieut. -Col.  Mann  in  command.  In 
this  achievement  much  gallantry  was  displayed. 

Under  orders,  the  39th  returned  to  Hilton  Head,  December  7th. 
Re-enlisting  January  1, 1864,  as  veterans,  it  returned  home  to  recruit 
and  remained  until  March  19th,  when  it  started  for  the  front  and  ar 
rived  at  Bermuda  Hundreds  May  6th,  and  on  the  14th  had  a  sharp 
engagement  with  the  enemy,  and  Col.  Osborne  was  severely  wounded. 
On  the  16th  it  participated  in  the  battle  of  Drury's  Bluff,  losing 
fifteen  killed,  seventy-two  wounded  and  fifty-two  missing.  At  the 
Mier  Bottom  church,  from  May  20th  to  June  19th,  the  loss  in  differ 
ent  engagements  was  23  killed,  130  wounded  and  13  missing.  At 
Deep  Bottom  and  Deep  River,  Va.,  August  14-16,  the  loss  was  26 
killed,  77  wounded  and  8  missing.  It  was  in  the  advance  on  Rich 
mond  via  Deep  Bottom,  September  29th,  October  1st.  At  Darby- 
town  road,  October  13th,  it  lost  15  killed,  57  wounded  and  8  missing. 
It  again  met  the  enemy  at  Charles  City  Cross  Roads  October  27th 
and  28th.  This  was  its  last  fighting  up  to  1865.  It  has  suffered 
severely  from  battle  casualties,  and  the  ordinary  causes  of  mortality 
and  disability,  bat  has  borne  its  colors  proudly,  without  stain.  The 
o9th  has  a  noble  record. 

Brev.  Brig.  Osborn  of  the  39th,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  graduate 
of  the  Ohio  University.  He  studied  law  with  Lew.  Wallace  (now 
Major-General),  at  Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  and  on  being  admitted 
to  the  bar,  came  to  Chicago  in  the  fall  of  1857.  He  was  active  in 
raising  the  Phalanx,  and  when  called  to  command  it,  he  gave  him 
self  so  heartily  and  laboriously  to  its  duties,  that  his  men  soon  found 
they  had  a  soldier  as  leader.  His  defense  of  Alpine  Station  and 
Great  Cacapon  against  the  advance  of  Jackson,  called  forth  the  offi 
cial  approval  of  General  Lander.  After  the  battle  of  Winchester 
he  marched  his  regiment  over  the  Massanutten  Mountains  to  protect 
the  bridges  of  the  valley,  and  then  marched  it  back  again  to  the 
support  of  General  Banks.  During  the  seven  days'  battles  of  the 
Peninsula,  the  Shields  division  was  divided  into  two  brigades,  one 
of  which  was  commanded  by  Col.  Osborn.  Subsequently  the  Colonel 
was  stationed  at  Fortress  Monroe.  He  was  with  the  39th  in  per 
sonal  command,  when  not  in  charge  of  a  brigade,  in  its  various  wan 
derings  and  engagements.  On  the  14th  of  May,  1864,  he  was  pain- 


584  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

fully  and  severely  wounded,  so  as  to  endanger,  for  some  time,  the 
loss  of  an  arm,  and  returned  home  to  his  friends  in  Chicago. 

He  is  an  eloquent  speaker  as  well  as  gallant  soldier.  A  few 
months  ago  we  heard  him  speak  of  the  employment  of  colored  sol 
diers,  and  of  his  former  prejudices.  But  he  had  seen  the  time  when 
he  was  thankful  for  their  gleaming  bayonets,  and  from  that  hour  lie 
was  "  cured  of  fancy  soldiering !"  He  said  this  with  inexpressible 
emotion,  his  arm  suspended  in  a  sling,  and  the  large  audience  made 
the  woods  ring  with  their  response. 

As  soon  as  his  wound  would  permit  he  returned  to  his  command, 
and  in  March  1865,  was  appointed  Brigadier-General  by  brevet. 

Lieut.-Col.  Mann,  by  his  activity  and  tact  in  securing  the  acceptance 
of  the  regiment,  showed  his  men  that  he  had  the  stuff  for  a  leader, 
and  accordingly  he  was  chosen  Major.  December  1,  1861,  he  was 
promoted  Lieutenant- Colonel,  and  was  frequently  in  command  of 
his  regiment.  He  led  the  charge  on  Fort  Wagner.  He  was  severely 
wounded  at  Wier  Bottom,  May  20th,  and  compelled  to  sport  a 
crutch  for  some  months,  during  which,  having  returned  home,  he 
repeatedly  addressed  his  fellow-citizens  on  the  necessity  of  bravely 
fighting  the  war  through  to  the  end.  Before  his  wound  had  healed 
he  reported  for  duty,  and  is,  at  this  time,  Provost-Marshal  General 
at  Norfolk,  Va. 

Major  S.  W.  Mann  entered  as  Captain  of  Company  A,  and  was 
promoted  Major  December  1,  1861.  He  was  an  efficient  officer,  but 
felt  it  necessary  to  resign.  He  was  succeeded  by  S.  S.  Linton,  who 
was  wounded  atDrury's  Bluff,  May  16th  ;  thus  within  six  days  were 
the  three  commanding  officers  of  the  39th  placed  hors  de  combat. 
Its  record  will  show,  when  published,  a  large  proportion  of  killed 
and  wounded  among  its  field  and  staff  officers. 

THE  STURGIS  RIFLES. 

This  was  a  single  company  of  eighty-three  men  organized  at 
Chicago,  armed,  equipped  and  subsisted  for  nearly  two  months  by 
the  munificence  of  Mr.  Solomon  Sturgis.  Its  commissioned  officers 
were  Captain  Steele;  1  st  Lieutenant,  N".  V.  Sheldon;  2d  Lieutenant, 

Foster. 

It  was  organized  in  April,  1861,  and  mustered  May  6th.  Through 
the  generosity  of  its  patron,  the  company  was  armed  with  Sharpe's 


THE    SIXTY-FIFTH    INF  ANTE  Y.  585 

rifles.  On  the  1 9th  of  June  it  started  for  West  Virginia,  where  it 
was  to  serve  as  body-guard  of  General  McClellan.  Every  attention 
had  been  given  to  perfection  in  drill  and  discipline.  It  arrived 
at  Parkersburg,  and  accompanied  the  General  through  the  West 
Virginia  campaign.  It  participated  in  the  battle  of  Rich  Mountain, 
and  accompanied  the  General  to  Washington,  where  he  went  to 
assume  chief  command. 

It  reached  Washington,  July  26th,  and  settled  into  guard  duty, 
not  only  over  the  person  of  its  chief,  but  being  entrusted  with  the 
care  of  some  ladies  of  secession  proclivities.  In  this  it  remained 
until  March  10, 1862,  when  the  quiet  of  the  Potomac  was  broken  by 
the  cry  of  Forward ! 

The  "  Rifles  "  accompanied  the  General  on  the  memorable  march 
upon  and  siege  of  Yorktown,  and  thence  into  the  Seven  Days'  bat 
tles  of  the  Chickahominy.  Subsequently  to  the  close  of  that  cam 
paign,  they  returned  to  Washington. 

Many  of  them  were  on  detached  duty.  Some  as  foragers,  some 
as  scouts,  etc.  A  few  of  them  were  at  the  battle  of  Antietam,  but 
the  company  as  a  whole,  was  not  present. 

They  left  the  army  at  Falmouth,  and  on  the  27th  of  November,  1863, 
were  mustered  out  of  the  service  at  Washington.  Before  leaving 
Washington,  on  the  Yorktown  campaign,  nineteen  recruits  were 
sent  forward.  They  were  a  gallant  and  finely  disciplined  body  of 
men.,  and  were  ready  to  fight  as  well  as  stand  guard. 

SIXTY-FIFTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

The  "  Scotch  Regiment,"  so  called,  was  organized  at  Camp  Doug 
las,  May  5,  1861.  It  contained  not  a  few  of  the  descendants  of 
"  Old  Scotia,"  for  the  descendants  of  the  men  who  had  shouted  their 
Slogan,  "The  Bruce!"  "  The  Douglas !"  could  not  have  their  sympa 
thies  elsewhere  than  with  freedom  as  against  slavery  in  such  a  con 
test.  Its  organization  was  as  follows  : 

Colonel,  Daniel  Cameron ;  Lieutenant-Colonel,  William  S.  Stewart ;  Major,  John 
Wood ;  Adjutant,  David  C.  Bradley  ;  Quartermaster,  James  C.  Rankin ;  Surgeon, 
George  H.  Park  ;  1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  Ira  Brown ;  2d  Assistant  Surgeon,  Henry 
T.  Mesler ;  Chaplain,  Charles  H.  Roe. 

Co.  A — Captain,  John  Wood ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  Duguid ;  2d  Lieutenant,  Clan- 
dine  George. 


586  PATRIOTISM   OF   ILLINOIS. 

Co.  B — Captain,  Robert  S.  Montgomery ;  1st  Lieutenant,  James  W.  Ballard ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Henry  H.  Jones. 

Co.  C — Captain,  John  J.  Boyd;  1st  Lieutenant,  Henry  Fisher;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Andrew  Youcig. 

Co.  D — Captain,  Van  Ness  Billings ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Ai  D.  Ewer;  2d  Lieutenant, 
Benjamin  Harding. 

Co.  E — Captain,  George  H.  Kennedy;  1st  Lieutenant,  John  R.  Floyd;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Arthur  M.  Tanney. 

Co.  F — Captain,  James  S.  Putnam;  1st  Lieutenant,  Samuel  D.  Toby  ;  2d  Lieuten 
ant,  Harrison  W.  Mallory. 

Co.  G — Captain,  Iranoff  Willentzki ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Alexander  W.  Ciller ;  2d 
Lieutenant,  Louis  H.  Higgins. 

Co.  H — Captain,  Alexander  McDonald ;  1st  Lieutenant,  Lysander  Tiffany;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  J.  Littler. 

Co.  I — Captain,  William  H.  Mapes  ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  Knowles ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  Benjamin  B.  Adams. 

Co.  K — Captain,  Henry  M.  Fuller ;  1st  Lieutenant,  William  Robertson  ;  2d  Lieu 
tenant,  John  Blain. 

It  has  been  out  of  the  author's  power  to  secure  full  notes  of  the 
history  of  this  gallant  regiment.  In  the  sketch  of  General  White 
the  reader  will  find  some  record  of  its  early  history,  of  its  compulsory 
surrender  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and  its  subsequent  movements  in  Ken 
tucky  and  elsewhere.  It  was  with  Burnside  in  East  Tennessee  at 
the  siege  of  Knoxville ;  with  Sherman  in  his  "On  to  Atlanta  and 
Savannah."  Was  with  Thomas  in  the  battles  of  Columbia,  Franklin 
and  Nashville  and  the  chase  after  Hood's  army.  It  was  at  the  occu 
pancy  of  Wilmington,  and  at  our  last  advices  was  with  Mnjor- 
General  Cox's  division,  23d  army  corps.  Five  companies  were  re 
cently  mustered  out  by  expiration  of  time,  and  the  field  officers  were 
moving  earnestly  to  fill  its  decimated  ranks. 

It  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  regiment  and  returned  to  the  field,  and 
has  done  good  service. 

Colonel  Cameron  was  born  in  Berwick-upon-Tweed,  but  though  a 
borderer  by  birth,  was  himself  of  Highland  ancestry,  being  a  de 
scendant  of  Cameron  of  Lochiel,  whose  blood  watered  the  field  of 
Culloden.  Coming  to  this  country,  Mr.  Cameron  became  actively 
connected  with  newspaper  life.  He  was  an  ardent  democrat  and 
warm  personal  friend  of  Judge  Douglas.  During  his  service  he  was 
much  of  his  time  in  command  of  a  brigade.  He  has  resigned  his 
commission  and  is  now  upon  his  farm. 


C  OL  .  J  O  H  N    A,  B  R  (  )  S  S  . 


ENGRAVEU  EXPRESSLY  TOR  "PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS"  CLAKKE  a.  co.  PTTBLISHERS 


OHAPTEE    XXXIV. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  JOHN  BUFORD,  THE  CAVALRY  MARSHAL — COLONKL  JOHN  A. 

COLORED  TROOPS — IN  THE  CEDARS — THE  29m  U.  S.   C.  T. — OBEY  ORDERS — THB 
MINE — LIEUT.  DE  WOLF — LIEUT.  SKINNER — YOUNG  DURHAM. 

ILLINOIS  hath  her  honored  dead  among  the  graves  of  soldiers  of 
the  Republic,  in  the  burial  places  of  our  south-eastern  armies. 
Among  the  first  in  honor  is  that  of  Major-General  John  Buford.  He 
\vas  a  native  of  Kentucky,  but  his  home  was  in  Illinois.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  the  military  academy  at  West  Point.  He  was  commis 
sioned  Brigadier-General  of  volunteers,  July  27,  1862,  and  was 
assigned  to  a  cavalry  brigade  under  General  Pope.  His  fitness  for 
this  arm  of  the  service  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  his  superiors, 
and  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  separate  cavalry  brigade 
of  the  entire  army  of  the  Potomac. 

His  genius  shone  brilliantly,  and  he  was  soon  recognized  as  the 
first  cavalry  officer  of  the  country.  He  could  deal  with  masses  of 
horsemen,  and  with  companies  and  persons.  He  could  restrain  the 
fiery  impatience  of  subordinates,  until  the  right  moment,  and  then 
launch  his  troops  like  resistless  thunderbolts  upon  the  foe. 

When  the  cavalry  was  organized  into  three  divisions,  he  was 
assigned  the  first.  He  kept  near  him,  as  much  as  possible,  the  8th 
and  12th,  with  the  New  York  2d,  for  he  knew  their  mettle.  In  the 
eventful  campaigns  of  1863,  he  was  almost  constantly  in  the  saddle. 
At  Gettysburg,  a  portion  of  his  command  met  the  brunt  of  the  first 
onset,  and  stayed  the  sweeping,  crushing  avalanche,  and  when  the 
retreat  came,  his  men  hung  upon  the  flanks  and  rear  of  the  retreat- 


588  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

in<i  force  of  Lee.  He  proved  himself  such  a  cavalry  marshal  as  the 
service  had  not  yet  developed. 

In  view  of  important  movements  pending  in  that  department,  he 
had  been  ordered,  a  few  days  before  his  death,  to  the  command  of 
the  cavalry  forces  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  Could  he  have 
reached  it  and  assumed  command,  and  directed  the  movements  of 
the  Western  horsemen,  some  painful  chapters  might  have  been  dif 
ferently  written. 

But  his  exposure  and  overwork  broke  down  his  sinewy  strength. 
He  was  prostrated  with  typhoid  fever,  and  died  in  the  city  of  Wash 
ington,  December  15,  1863,  aged  forty  years.  Shortly  before  his 
death,  he  was  made  Major- General  of  volunteers,  his  commission 
dating  from  July  4th,  or  the  victory  of  Gettysburg.  His  funeral 
was  a  magnificent  pageant,  for  he  was  honored  above  many. 

General  Buford  was  brave.  He  dared  all  perils  if  they  were  in 
the  way  of  the  necessary  victory.  At  the  same  time  he  was  careful 
of  the  lives  of  his  men,  and  never  sent  them  into  death  headlong. 
They  never  questioned  his  orders.  At  his  word  they  would  have 
rode  against  walls  of  mason-work  or  lines  of  steel. 

O 

"  He  could,"  said  a  returned  captain  who  long  served  under  him, 
"  preserve  the  dignity  of  the  commander,  and  yet  be  the  soldier's 
friend.  Any  one  might  approach  him.  He  had  a  smile  and  cheer 
ful  word  for  the  private  as  well  as  the  officer."  'No  wonder  he  was 
an  idol  with  the  bold  troopers  of  the  Potomac. 

He  seems  to  have  been  among  the  first  to  comprehend  the  true 
power  of  a  strong  cavalry  force,  and  its  place  in  a  great  army.  It 
is  not  infantry,  is  not  to  do  the  work  of  infantry,  but  to  hover  upon 
the  flanks  and  rear  of  a  foe,  to  cut  his  communications,  cut  off  his 
advance,  turn  the  retreat  into  a  route,  or  at  the  decisive  moment,  by 
a  bold  charge,  decide  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  And  in  the  painful 
history  of  waiting  and  pausing ;  of  politely  giving  our  enemy  time 
to  entrench  and  secure  his  communications  before  assailing  him,  it 
is  refreshing  to  turn  to  the  chronicles  of  Buford's  cavalry.  It  is  like 
reading  the  annals  of  romance.  Now  their  shout  is  heard  from 
the  hillsides,  and  now  the  ringing  of  their  sabers  is  echoing  in  the  val 
ley.  Now  they  ride  defiantly  within  sight  of  the  spires  of  Richmond, 
and  discuss  the  propriety  of  breakfasting  with  the  "Mrs.  President' 


GEN.    BUFOED — COL.     BEOSS.  589 

of  the  confederacy.  Now  they  confront  superior  forces  and  dash 
them  back  until  the  array  of  the  Union  is  in  position,  and  the  Union 
is  saved  at  Gettysburg. 

There  were  other  brave  men  and  gallant  officers  there — men 
seamed  with  scars  and  wearing  well-worn  honors,  but  no  injustice  is 
done  them  when  we  write  that  much  of  the  glory  of  the  brave  cav 
alry  of  the  army  of  the  Potomac  is  due  General  John  Buford  of 
Illinois. 

COLONEL  JOHN  A.  BROSS. — It  became  early  evident  that  colored 
men  could  not  be  kept  out  of  the  war,  and  by  degrees  the  Northern 
mind  was  educated  to  consent  to  their  enlistment.  From  various 
causes,  the  work  of  raising  a  regiment  in  Illinois  was  difficult.  The 
black  laws  had  thwarted  the  coming  of  men  of  color  into  the  State, 
and  increased  prejudice  against  them.  In  addition,  many  of  this 
class  had  left  the  State  and  enlisted  elsewhere — nearly  two  full  com 
panies  having  entered  the  Massachusetts  59th.  Yet  it  was  decided 
to  enlist  the  29th  U.  S.  colored  troops  in  Illinois. 

To  undertake  the  work  of  recruiting,  and  then  of  drilling  such  a 
regiment,  Capt.  John  A.  Bross,  of  Company  A,  88th  Illinois  infantry, 
was  selected.  This  gentleman  was  born  in  Milford,  Penn.  His 
father,  Deacon  Moses  Bross,  now  resides  in  Morris,  Illinois,  while 
his  brother  William,  widely  known  as  one  of  the  editors  of  the 
Chicago  Tribune,  is  now  Lieut. -Governor  of  the  State.  He  re 
ceived  an  academic  education  and  entered  the  profession  of  the  law. 
Democratic  in  politics,  he  served  as  assistant  U.  S.  Marshal  under 
Mr.  Pierce,  and  held  the  office  of  U.  S.  Commissioner  until  his  death. 
He  entered  heartily  into  the  work  of  aiding  the  government  in  sup 
pressing  rebellion,  and  in  the  summer  of  1862,  raised  two  companies, 
one  of  which  entered  the  V5th  infantry.  The  other  went  into  the 
88th,  and  he  was  chosen  its  captain. 

In  his  first  engagement,  that  of  Perryville,  it  was  seen  that 
he  was  a  soldier,  brave  and  true.  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  where  the  88th  covered  itself  with  glory,  enduring  at  one 
time  the  assault  of  a  whole  brigade.  After  the  battle  he  was  in 
troduced  to  Major-General  Negley.  As  that  officer  looked  at  him, 
a  pleased  beam  of  recognition  came  over  his  face,  and  he  said : 
"  Ah!  I  saw  you  in  the  Cedars"  and  he  gave  the  Captain's  hand  a 


590  PATIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

hearty  clasp.  He  was  with  his  command  through  the  long  and  se 
vere  campaign  terminated  by  the  hard-fought  and  bloody  battle  of 
Chiokamauga. 

He  assumed  the  formation  and  discipline  of  the  27th  U.  S.  colored 
troops  from  conviction  of  duty.  He  was  in  the  direct  line  of  pro 
motion  in  the  88th.  He  felt  God  called  him  to  the  work  he  took  in 
hand.  His  headquarters  were  established  at  Quincy.  He  entered 
upon  the  work  of  recruiting  and  drilling  his  men  with  all  his  accus 
tomed  industry.  From  the  first  he  decided  that  his  treatment  of  his 
troops  should  be  such  as  became  them  as  men  ;  and  the  result  was 
that  he  soon  established  himself  fully  in  their  confidence  and  affec 
tions.  The  undertaking  in  his  hands  was  at  once  a  success,  so  far 
as  the  proficiency  of  the  troops  in  their  ordinary  duties  was  con 
cerned.  The  filling  up  of  the  regiment,  owing  to  the  causes  alluded 
to,  was  not  rapid.  Having  raised  six  companies,  he  was  commis 
sioned  as  Lieut.-Colonel,  April  7,  1864.  He  was  ordered  to  join  the 
9th  army  corps  (Burnside's),  then  moving  from  Annapolis  to  the  iield. 
He  passed  through  Chicago  with  his  regiment  on  the  27th  of  May, 
1864.  His  troops  were  provided  with  refreshments  at  the  "  Soldiers' 
Rest,"  and  a  number  of  friends  presented  the  Colonel  with  a  fine 
horse  and  equipments,  as  a  token  of  their  high  appreciation  of  his 
steadfast  devotion  to  the  cause  of  liberty.  The  presentation  address 
was  made  by  Col.  F.  A.  Eastman,  and  was  briefly  replied  to  by  the 
recipient  of  the  gift.  His  response  being  entirely  extempore,  was 
not  preserved,  but  a  sentence  or  two  is  remembered  by  those  who 
heard  it.  "  When  I  lead  these  men  into  battle,  we  shall  remember 
Fort  Pillow,  and  shall  not  ask  for  quarter.  I  leave  a  home  and 
friends  as  dear  as  can  be  found  on  earth,  but  if  it  is  the  will  of 
Providence  that  I  do  not  return,  I  ask  no  nobler  epitaph  than  that  I 
fell  for  my  country  at  the  head  of  this  black  and  blue  regiment." 

The  9th  army  corps  had  left  Annapolis  before  the  29th  could  ar 
rive,  and  an  order  was  received  directing  it  to  proceed  to  Alexandria. 
General  Casey  was  in  command  at  Washington,  and  had  issued  an 
order  for  the  regiment  to  report  at  his  headquarters,  near  Long 
Bridge.  For  some  reason  the  order  failed  to  reach  Col.  Bross,  and 
and  he  inarched  directly  past  General  Casey's  office  through  to  Alex 
andria,  and  encamped,  in  ignorance  of  the  General's  directions.  An 


COLONEL   BKOSS.  591 

order  was  thereupon  sent  to  him  direct,  to  report  immediately  at 
headquarters.  He  was  received  with  much  sternness  by  General 
Casey.  "  Have  you  seen  service  before,  sir  ?"  "  I  have,  sir."  "  Plow 
cu-ine  you  to  disobey  that .?"  said  General  Casey,  one  of  his  staff  at 
the  same  time  presenting  the  order.  "Are  you  accustomed  to  obey 
orders'?"  S.iid  Col.  Bross,  with  emphasis,  "  General  Casey,  I  obey 
orders  with  my  life  ;  your  order  never  reached  me."  The  mistake 
was  of  course  discovered  and  explanations  were  soon  made.  His  air 
of  resolute  determination  favorably  impressed  the  old  General,  and 
the  Colonel  was  thereupon  placed  in  command  of  the  colored  brigade, 
then  at  Camp  Casey,  near  Washington.  This  position  he  hel.l  until 
after  the  battle  of  Spottsylvania,  when,  with  his  brigade,  lie  was 
ordered  forward  to  White  House,  where  he  remained  until  an  oppor 
tunity  offered  to  go  to  the  front.  At  this  time  the  troops  were 
rapidly  attaining  perfection  in  drill,  and  their  discipline  was  every 
way  satisfactory. 

His  regiment  was  thoroughly  drilled,  and  on  occasions  of  alarm 
proved  itself  ready  to  stand  in  its  lot  amid  the  thunders  of  battle. 

General  Grant  was  before  Petersburg.  An  order  was  addressed 
to  Col.  Bross  to  detach  one  regiment  to  guard.  He  selected  the 
29th  and  accompanied  it,  leaving  the  brigade.  He  reached  the  main 
army  and  commenced  work  in  the  trenches  June  19th.  In  July  it 
was  known  that  an  extensive  mine  was  in  preparation,  and  following 
its  explosion,  extensive  movements  were  to  be  made  and  grand 
results  achieved. 

"  On  Saturday  morning,  July  30, 1864,  at  40  minutes  past  4  o'clock, 
the  mine  beneath  the  rebel  fort  was  exploded ;  and  at  5  o'clock  and 
30  minutes  a  charge  was  made  and  for  a  while  seemed  to  promise 
well.  The  line,  for  a  short  distance  on  each  side  of  the  mine,  is  said 
to  have  been  brilliantly  carried.  The  second  line  was  gained  and 
held  for  a  time.  The  colored  division,  under  General  Ferrero,  in 
cluding  seven  colored  regiments,  was  then  ordered  forward.  The 
fort  had  been  seized,  and  the  order  to  the  black  troops  was  to  take 
the  interior  line  beyond.  They  had  been  ordered  to  take  the  caps 
from  their  muskets  and  rely  on  the  bayonet.  It  soon  became  evident 
the  work  claimed  to  have  been  done  by  Ledlie's  division  was  not 
thoroughly  accomplished.  The  enemy's  lines  had  not  been  suffi- 


592  PATRIOTISM    OF   ILLINOIS. 

ciently  cleared,  and  such  had  been  the  delay  that  the  rebels  had 
rallied  in  full  force  and  were  prepared  now  to  dispute,  successfully, 
any  further  advance  of  our  troops.  But  they  did  advance,  in  face 
of  a  fire  in  front ;  and  in  addition,  received  an  enfilading  fire  upon 
each  flank  and  also  in  the  rear  from  portions  of  the  enemy's  first 
line,  which  had  not  been  taken.  They  advanced  towards  Cemetery 
Hill,  which  was  the  key  to  the  entire  rebel  position.  Cemetery  Hill 
commands  Petersburg  itself,  and  was,  therefore,  the  objective  point 
of  the  assault ;  and  without  attaining  it,  the  attack,  as  a  whole,  must 
fail.  It  would  seem,  therefore,  that  such  a  careful  disposition  of  the 
forces  should  have  been  made  as  would  render  the  attempt  a  certain 
success.  On  the  contrary,  the  first  assault  was  so  executed  that  no 
subsequent  bravery  could  prevent  a  total  failure  ;  and  no  failure  of 
the  war,  of  the  same  dimensions,  has  been  more  disastrous.  Not 
that  in  a  strictly  military  sense,  the  loss  was  so  great,  though  it  cost 
us  four  thousand  of  our  bravest  and  best  men — the  military  situation 
was  the  same  after  the  attempt  as  before.  In  addition  to  the  loss  of 
life  the  moral  effect  was  intensely  calamitous.  It  spread  a  gloom 
over  all  the  land.  It  was  widely  felt,  as  a  result,  that  we  were 
making  no  progress  in  the  war,  and  were  likely  to  make  none.  All 
the  friends  of  those  who  died  in  the  undertaking  felt  that  their  lives 
had  been  sacrificed  to  the  most  stupid  and  criminal  blundering.  If 
a  soldier  falls  in  a  successful  battle,  his  name  is  imperishably  linked 
with  whatever  of  luster  it  sheds  about  it.  History,  poetry  and  ora 
tory  dwell  upon  it.  But  to  fall  in  a  failure  is  to  go  down  in  com 
parative  darkness,  and  history  refuses  to  linger  upon  the  theme." 
Lieutenant  Chapman  says : 

"  Whenever  I  recall  the  scenes  of  that  dreadful  day,  feelings  of  sorrow  and  regret 
inevitably  arise.  Before  day  we  were  up  and  ready.  Every  one  felt  the  danger 
awaiting  him,  and  there  was  unusual  silence.  All  seemed  occupied  with  their  own 
thoughts.  The  Colonel  came  up  to  me,  and  we  had  a  few  moments  of  cheerful  con 
versation.  Soon  the  artillery  opened — the  musketry  was  distinctly  heard — the  con 
flict  had  commenced.  In  perfect  silence  we  moved  forward.  My  last  interview 
with  the  Colonel  was  while  we  were  halted  in  the  covered  way.  Capt.  Aiken  and 
Lieut,  Gale  were  also  there.  Few  words  were  exchanged,  our  thoughts,  as  usual  at 
such  times,  straying  homeward.  We  little  knew  then  that  by  incapacity  and 
wanton  neglect,  thousands  of  lives  were  to  be  sacrificed.  Again  we  were  moving 
forward.  The  outer  line  of  works  was  passed,  and  we  were  hastening  up  the  hill  to 
the  fort.  Here,  friend  and  foe,  living  and  dying,  were  heaped  together,  causing  us 


HIS    DEATH.  593 

to  halt  in  the  midst  of  a  destructive  fire  of  both  musketry  and  artillery.  I  well 
remember  how  he  looked ;  standing  in  the  midst,  his  countenance  lighted  up  with 
steadfast  hope  and  an  almost  superhuman  courage,  he  cried  out,  'Forward,  29th,'  and 
we  moved  on  over  the  mass.  The  men  were  falling  thick  and  fast,  and  soon  my 
turn  came.  Lying  on  the  field,  I  felt  the  auspicious  moment  had  passed.  His  form 
was  ever  a  prominent  mark.  Turning  to  Capt.  Brockway,  he  said,  '  Bring  forward 
tho  colors.'  Then,  seizing  them  in  his  own  hand,  he  cried,  'Follow  me,  my  men/ 
But  it  was  in  vain ;  the  enemy  were  concentrated.  It  was  madness  for  us  to  charge 
where  three  divisions  had  already  failed.  As  we  were  ordered  back,  the  Colonel 
was  seen  endeavoring  to  rescue  the  colors.  Standing  upon  the  parapet,  he  said, 
'  The  man  who  saves  those  colors  shall  be  promoted.'  The  fatal  ball  came,  and  he 
fell,  but  the  legacy  of  his  bright  example  and  the  memory  of  his  noble  deeds  re 
main.  The  intense  sorrow  and  grief  of  that  night  I  will  not  attempt  to  portray." 

Capt.  McCormick  testifies  that  the  29th  first  advanced  through  a 
narrow  strip  of  timber,  and  received  the  rebel  fire.  Beyond  was 
the  first  line  of  earthworks  and  then  an  open  plain.  Across  this 
charged  the  troops  to  a  mined  fort,  receiving  a  terrible  cross  and 
enfilading  fire,  and  here  the  brave  Capta'n  Flint  was  killed.  On 
ward,  up  to  the  ditch  in  front  of  the  rebel  lines,  and  after  a  brief 
rest,  another  advance  upon  the  second  rebel  line,  where  was  en 
trenched  a  force  so  strong  that  the  unsupported  soldiers  of  the  Union 
could  not  go  farther.  The  Colonel  leaped  upon  the  parapet  and 
planted  his  colors,  but  seeing  at  a  glance  the  strength  of  the  foe, 
ordered  a  retreat,  but  before  he  could  retire  a  minnie  ball  struck  him 
on  the  left  side  of  his  brain  and  crashed  through  his  skull.  He  ex 
claimed,  "  O  Lord  I"  and  was  dead. 

That  regiment  lost  in  that  charge,  one  hundred  and  fifty  killed, 
one  hundred  wounded,  and  from  seventy  to  eighty  prisoners !  It 
did  all  that  could  have  been  done.  Four  hundred  and  fifty  men 
went  into  the  melee — one  hundred  and  twenty-eight  came  out !  Of 
the  officers,  the  Colonel  and  Captain  Flint  were  killed ;  Major  Brown 
was  wounded ;  adjutant  Downing  was  severely  wounded  and  cap 
tured;  Captain  Aikin  was  mortally  wounded;  Captains  D.aggett  and 
Brockway  severely,  and  Captain  Porter  slightly. 

The  colored  troops  did  their  duty.  Some  one  blundered,  and  they 
were  marched  into  death.  Col.  Bross  was  foremost  in  the  charge 
and  his  body  was  farthest  in  advance.  He  sleeps  in  his  soldier 
grave  unmarked,  unknown !  His  pastor  delivered  an  eloquent  funeral 
discourse,  from  which  we  make  the  following  extract : 
38 


594:  PATRIOTISM    OF  ILLINOIS. 

"  God  will  keep  his  dust,  and  his  memory  will  grow  brighter  and  brighter  in  that 
long  catalogue  of  heroes  and  martyrs  who  have  given  their  lives  to  liberty  and  to 
God.  It  is  a  little  remarkable  that  he  was  accustomed  to  repeat  Tennyson's 
'Charge  of  the  Light  Brigade,'  and  especially  these  verses: 

"  *  Forward  the  Light  Brigade  ! 
No  man  was  there  dismayed, 
Not  though  the  soldiers  knew 
Some  one  had  blundered — 
Theirs  not  to  make  reply  ; 
Theirs  not  to  reason  why ; 
Theirs  but  to  do  and  die; 
Into  the  valley  of  death 
Rode  the  six  hundred.' 

"  Mr.  Bross  was  a  good  husband,  a  tender  father,  a  kind  and  generous  neighbor, 
He  was  also  an  humble  and  decided  follower  of  Jesus.  His  serious  attention  to  the 
claims  of  religion  was  arrested,  he  used  to  say,  by  the  fact  that  his  father,  with 
whom  he  was  going  to  church  on  a  certain  occasion,  stopped  in  a  lonely  place  to 
pray. 

"  I  have  reason  to  know  that  in  the  army  he  was  constant  in  his  religious  duties, 
and  in  circumstances  where  it  required  no  little  degree  of  moral  courage  to 
acknowledge  his  convictions  and  do  his  duty.  He  had,  however,  no  cant  about  him. 
He  wns  simply  straightforward  and  conscientious. 

"He  was  a  faithful  and  much  loved  member  of  this  Church.  Many  of  us  have 
known  him  long  and  well.  Quiet,  unpretentious,  liberal  according  to  his  means, 
genial  in  spirit,  and  ready  for  every  good  word  and  work,  we  could  not  fail  to  esteem 
him,  nor  regret  his  loss  when  he  left  us  for  the  field  of  strife.  And  now  we  mourn 
him,  as  we  mourn  good  men  whose  lives  have  been  linked  with  ours  and  are  no 
more.  Nay,  as  we  mourn  good  men  who  die  for  us.  Nor  are  we  alone.  He  has  num 
bered  himself  with  those  for  whom  a  nation  mourns,  and  over  whose  fate  the  lovers 
of  our  country,  in  all  lands,  will  drop  a  tear." 

He  died  a  Christian  soldier.  He  was  a  fine  singer,  and  his  love 
of  song  went  with  him  to  the  front.  The  Surgeon  of  the  regiment 
thus  writes : 

"HoN.  WM.  BROSS — Dear  Sir :  I  would  esteem  it  a  great  kindness  if  you  would 
send  me  a  card  photograph  of  my  late  much  lamented  and  highly  esteemed  Colonel. 
*  *  *  We  had  many  happy  times  together  during  our — to  me,  alas!  too  short — 
acquaintance.  When  he  visited  me  at  the  hospital,  we  used  to  make  these  old  Vir 
ginia  woods  ring  with  auld  Scotch  songs.  '  My  Nannie's  awa,'  was  a  special  favorite 
of  his.  He  was  delighted  to  hear  me  recite  or  read  Burns,  and  many  a  hearty 
laugh  we  had  at  our  'Immortal  Bobby,'  and  my  Scotch  pronunciation.  Or,  we  would 
start  some  sacred  tune:  '  Sweet  Hour  of  Prayer,'  'Marching  Along,'  'A  Light  in  the 
Window  for  Thee,  Brother,'  etc.  The  two  former  he  taught  me. 


LIKUT.-COL.    JOHN  A.  BRO88.  595 

"  I  well  remember  the  ui^ht  we  crossed  the  James.  We  had  a  long  hot  day's 
march  on  foot — his  horse  was  sick.  We  were  resting  on  an  old  stump  when  we  re 
ceived  orders  directing  me  to  report  to  the  hospital.  He  said,  'Doctor,  I  am  glad 
you  .u-e  going  to  the  hospital ;  if  anything  should  happen  to  me  or  my  boys,  we 
shall  get  the  best  attention,  and  if  I  am  wounded,  I  wish  you  to  attend  to  my  case; 
I  will  iot  have  any  of  these  drinking  surgeons  touch  me.'  Then  turning  to  an  or 
derly,  he  said,  'Gail  the  officers.'  When  they  were  around  him,  he  said,  'Now,  gen 
tlemen,  we  are  expecting  to  storm  those  works  to-night  or  to-morrow  morning  early, 
and  I  .vish  it  thoroughly  understood  that  not  a  man  is  to  leave  his  post  to  assist  the 
wo>mded—no  matter  who  falls,  I,  or  any  body  else.  Let  the  wounded  lie  where  they  fall, 
and  piiKHS  on.'  We  then  lay  down  on  that  corn-field — little  thought  I  it  was  the  last 
night  we  should  spend  together. 

"This  war,  and  that  of  the  Crimea,  have  deprived  me  of  many  warm  friends,  but 
this  last  is  the  severest  trial  of  all.  Be  assured  I  should  prize  one  of  his  pictures 
very  highly. 

"  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  D.  MACKAY,  Surgeon  29th  U.  8.  Colored  Troops* 

The  Chicago  bar  held,  on  Thursday,  August  1 8th,  one  of  the  largest 
and  most  affecting  meetings  ever  convened  on  the  occasion  of  the 
death  of  one  of  its  members.  As  one  truly  said,  they  mourned  a 
brother  over  whom  it  was  necessary  to  throw  no  mantle  of  charity. 
The  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

"  WHEREAS,  Our  friend  and  brother,  Lieut.-Colonel  Jonx  A.  BROSS,  29th  regiment  U. 

S.  colored  troops,   has  fallen  upon  the  field  of  battle — another  victim  upon  the 

altar  of  our  country — 

44  Resolved,  That  by  his  glorious  death  this  Bar  has  lost  one  of  its  most  cherished 
members,  his  regiment  an  able  and  fearless  commander,  the  country  a  brave  soldier, 
and  humanity  an  earnest  advocate  and  uncompromising  friend.  While  we  mourn, 
we  cannot  but  gather  consolation  that  another  of  our  number  (having  courageously 
assumed  the  chances  alike  from  an  open  enemy  in  honorable  warfare,  and  a  malig 
nant  foe  in  indiscriminate  massacre),  ripe  in  Christian  character  and  manly  virtue, 
and  impelled  by  patriotic  devotion,  has  thus  enrolled  his  name  on  that  long  list  of 
heroes  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  a  grateful  nation. 

"  Resolved,  That  though  we  shall  miss  Col.  Bross  in  the  halls  of  justice  and  in  the 
other  walks  of  our  common  profession,  we  shall  not  cease  to  remember  the  urbanity 
of  his  deportment,  the  geniality  of  his  companionship,  the  integrity  of  his  purposes, 
and  the  honesty  of  his  heart. 

"  Resolved,  That  from  our  earliest  acquaintance,  our  departed  brother  illustrated 
the  principles  of  universal  philanthropy  having  their  foundation  in  the  gospel  he 
professed ;  and  while  his  military  career  gave  the  highest  evidence  of  h?s  self- 
sacrificing  patriotism  and  his  fidelity  to  early  convictions,  leading  him  to  seek  a 
path  of  danger  unequaled  in  civil 'zed  warfare,  in  h'B  heroic  death  he  has  sealed 
with  his  blood  those  great  principles  of  our  common  humanity,  which  he  believed 
to  be  inculcated  by  his  Divine  Master. 


596  PATRIOTISM  OF  ILLINOIS. 

"Resolved,  That  we  do  not  and  will  not  forget  that  the  dearest  and  tenderest  of 
ties  bound  Col.  Bross  to  family,  home  and  earth,  and  increased  the  sacrifice  thus 
cheerfully  made  at  the  shrine  of  principle,  patriotism  and  humanity,  and  that  we 
tender  to  those  he  held  most  dear  our  cordial  sympathy  hi  this  bereavement. 

"  Resolved,  That  a  suitable  committee  be  appointed  to  communicate  the  above 
resolutions  to  the  United  States  Courts  and  the  several  courts  of  record,  with  the 
request  that  they  be  recorded  therein. 

"  Resolved,  That  copies  of  the  foregoing  resolutions,  signed  by  the  Chairman  and 
Secretary,  be  presented  to  the  family  and  brothers  of  the  deceased,  as  a  testimonial 
of  sympathy  and  regard." 

We  would  be  glad  to  insert  all  the  addresses  which  were  de 
livered.  He  who  reads  them  sees  that  Col.  Bross  was  no  needy 
adventurer,  taking  command  of  colored  troops  to  attain  distinction 
not  to  be  won  elsewhere.  Said  Mr.  Herbert : 

"  Col.  Bross  entered  the  army  in  the  88th  Illinois,  for  which  he  enlisted  a  com 
pany,  leaving  this  city  in  August,  1862.  The  campaigns  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee 
brought  him  practically  into  direct  contact  with  an  element  in  the  great  contest, 
which  before,  he  had  studied  theoretically  only  at  a  distance.  His  conviction  of  the 
great  fact  that  "  God  had  made  of  one  blood  all  the  nations  to  dwell  upon  all  the  face  of 
tfie  earth"  had  early  been  with  him  a  settled  principle  of  faith ;  and  when  the  Gov 
ernment  decided  to  call  forth  that  great  element  of  power  representing  four  millions 
of  our  population,  and  give  them  their  position  as  men  in  this  conflict,  no  one  was 
surprised  that  Capt.  Bross  applied  for  power  to  enlist  a  regiment  in  Illinois.  In 
this  he  was  measurably  successful.  He  needed  but  the  maximum  of  a  regiment  to 
have  received  a  commission  as  Colonel. 

"A  man  of  less  principle  would  have  hesitated.  He  had  as  much  to  lose  as  any 
other  man  ;  as  much  to  bind  him  to  family,  friends  and  home ;  as  much  to  induce 
him  to  temporize  and  delay ;  but  foremost  in  this  State  at  the  hazard  of  life — nay, 
though  counting  it  almost  certain  death — he  engaged  in  the  effort  which  he  be 
lieved  would  demonstrate  the  truth  of  the  divine  statement  to  the  most  unbeliev 
ing,  and  would  elevate  the  chattel  to  the  full  rank  of  manhood,  and  disabuse  a 
public  sentiment  which  he  looked  upon  not  only  as  a  reproach  upon  our  State  and 
nation,  but  upon  our  common  Creator. 

"  Col.  Bross  entered  on  this  work  with  an  enthusiasm  lighted  up  by  patriotism, 
philanthropy  and  religion.  With  him  the  great  brotherhood  of  man  had  its  found 
ation  in  a  common  Creator,  a  common  ancestry,  and  a  common  destiny,  and  any 
thing  that  practically  denied  that,  was  to  him  infidelity. 

"I  shall  ever  remember  the  magnetic  grasp  of  his  hand,  and  the  earnest  fervor 
of  his  mild  and  determined  eye,  when  he  bade  me  his  last  farewell.  His  manner, 
indeed  the  whole  man  impressed  me  with  the  feelings  from  that  moment,  that  John 
A.  Bross  would  return,  if  ever,  a  dead  man  or  a  hero.  You  all  know  the  result.  On 
the  80th  of  July,  before  Petersburg,  on  the  parapet  of  the  enemy,  planting  the  flag 


LIEUT.-COL.  JOHN  A.  BROSS.  597 

of  the  country — the  flag  he  so  much  loved — he  fell,  covered  with  the  folds  of  that 
flag  and  with  glory,  and  attested  the  sincerity  of  his  faith  and  his  philanthropy,  by 
mingling  his  blood  with  that  of  the  despised  and  oppressed  race  whose  welfare  and 
whose  elevation  he  sought  with  so  much  earnestness  and  zeal. 

"If  the  ancients  wished  to  stimulate  the  Greek,  they  spoke  of  his  household 
gods.  If  they  wished  to  inspire  the  valor  of  the  Roman,  they  promised  him  im 
mortal  honors  with  the  heroes  of  antiquity.  If  they  would  urge  on  the  stubborn 
Jew,  they  spoke  of  the  altar  and  the  temple — the  graves  of  the  prophets  and  the 
great  Jehovah. 

"  It  was  this  feeling  of  religious  enthusiasm  which  moved  the  sword  of  the  Lord 
and  of  Gideon ;  which  nerved  the  arm  of  the  youthful  David  to  hurl  the  smooth 
stone  from  the  brook ;  that  stimulated  the  infant  Hannibal ;  that  beamed  in  the 
fervid  eye  of  the  maid  of  Orleans ;  that  sustained  the  patient  courage  of  Washing 
ton.  This  it  was  which  in  our  own  day  gave  England  her  Havelock,  and  has  among 
ourselves  raised  up  the  idols  of  our  army  and  our  navy — our  Foote  and  our 
Howard — and  is  now  developing  a  host  of  minor  worthies,  each  of  whom,  if  not  en 
rolled  high  in  the  annals  of  fame,  will  be  found  registered  in  the  hearts  of  his  com 
rades,  and  in  that  great  catalogue  of  Christian  martyrs  and  heroes  in  the  Lamb's 
book  of  life. 

"  This  great  principle  is  most  happily  illustrated  in  the  life  and  death  of  Col. 
Bross.  His  death,  like  his  life,  was  the  development  of  a  calm  and  patient,  pursuit 
of  what  he  thought  a  rigorous  duty.  '  He  loved  his  fellow-men,'  and  thus  attested 
by  the  divine  law,  his  love  for  his  country  and  to  his  God. 

"If,  when  surrounded  by  home  and  by  friends — 

'  The  chamber  where  the  good  man  meets  his  fate 
Is  privileged  beyond  the  common  walk 
Of  virtuous  life,  quite  on  the  verge  of  Heaven,' 

how  near  to  the  great  white  throne  above  must  be  that  favored  spot  of  earth  where, 
heralded  by  the  thunders  of  battle  and  canopied  by  the  smoke  and  flame  of  con 
tending  armies,  with  one  hand  on  the  flag,  the  same  Christian  hero  and  martyr,  with 
heart  full  of  love  for  his  country,  his  brother,  and  his  God,  yields  up  his  life,  and 
whence  his  released  spirit  takes  its  flight  to  the  bosom  of  that  God  who  '  is  no 
respecter  of  persons,'  but  of  whom  it  is  said  that  '  in  every  nation  he  that  feareth 
God  and  worketh  righteousness  is  accepted  with  him." 

The  gallant  Major  Alex.  F.  Stevenson  who  was  present,  said : 

"  In  battle  there  was  none  braver  than  he.  At  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga, 
battles  historic  for  the  bravery  of  our  troops  against  heavy  numerical  superiority  of 
the  enemy,  he  displayed  that  coolness  and  determination  which  fitted  him  so  much 
for  a  higher  command. 

"But  it  seems  to  me  Col.  Bross  had  still  greater  moral  courage  than  we  gave  him 
credit  for.  He  has  shown  it  in  taking  the  command  of  colored  troops.  To  take 
this  step  required  a  man  of  nerve  and  fortitude,  for  he  knew  that  to  the  officers  of 


598  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

colored  troops  there  was  no  imprisonment  like  unto  o  hers,  but  certain  death 
awaited  them  should  the  chances  of  war  cast  them  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
But  with  the  full  knowledge  of  all  this,  he  went  bravely  into  the  contest,  because 
he  believed  it  to  be  his  duty  to  his  country  and  his  God. 

"  No  doubting,  no  fearing,  the  soldier  shall  know, 
When  here  stands  his  country,  and  yonder  the  foe; 
One  look  at  the  bright  sun,  one  prayer  to  the  sky, 
One  glance  where  our  banner  floats  glorious  on  high; 
Then  on,  as  the  young  lion  bounds  on  his  prey, 
Let  the  sword  flash  on  high,  fling  the  scabbard  away, 
Roll  on  as  the  thunderbolt  over  the  plain, 
We'll  come  back  in  glory,  or  come  not  again." 

We  can  only  give  one  more  quotation,  and  that  is  from  the  ad 
dress  of  Hon.  I.  N.  Arnold : 

"I  remember  very  vividly  my  last  interview  with  him.  It  was  the  Saturday  be 
fore  he  marched  from  his  camp,  near  Alexandria,  to  join  the  forces  of  Grant,  con 
fronting  Lee.  I  drove  over  with  my  family  from  Washington  to  his  quarters.  It 
was  a  most  beautiful  sunny  afternoon,  and  I  saw  him  with  great  pride  review  his 
regiment  on  dress  parade.  He  had  received  his  marching  orders,  and  was  full  of 
enthusiasm  and  very  proud  of  his  regiment.  He  assured  me  that  in  capacity  for 
service,  endurance,  courage,  and  all  the  qualities  of  a  soldier,  his  regiment  of  ne 
groes  would  not  be  outdone  by  any  regiment,  white  or  black,  in  the  service.  He 
took  a  seat  in  my  carriage  and  rode  with  me  a  short  distance  towards  Washington. 
I  parted  with  him  as  the  sun  sank  behind  the  blue  hills  of  Virginia,  and  as  we 
shook  hands  in  farewell,  I  never  was  more  impressed  by  any  man.  He  was  sun 
burnt  and  manly — his  large,  fine  manly  form  full  of  health  and  vigor,  filled  with  the 
martial  ardor  of  the  soldier  and  the  hero.  He  struck  his  tents  that  night — led  his 
gallant  regiment  to  Petersburg,  and  found  there  the  death  of  a  hero  and  martyr.  I 
can  truly  say  that  in  all  the  rich  sacrifices  of  this  war  there  has  fallen  not  one  more 
manly,  brave  and  true :  none  more  patriotic  and  disinterested :  no  more  worthy 
Cliristian  soldier  that  JOHN  A.  BROSS." 

If  more  space  is  given  this  officer  than  to  most  of  his  rank  whose 
Ml  has  been  chronicled,  the  author's  single  apology  is,  that  some 
thing  of  historic  mention  is  due  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
first  regiment  of  colored  troops  raised  in  Illinois— to  the  brave,  hon 
orable  Christian  man  and  chivalrous  officer,  who  identified  his 
fortune  with  that  of  the  people  of  affliction.  His  death  was  appro 
priately  acknowledged  by  various  Sunday  school  and  othor  organiza 
tions.  His  wife  and  boy  cherish  his  memory  as  a  priceless  legacy, 
for  he  was  a  good  man  and  died  in  a  good  cause. 


LIEUTENANTS   D^WOLF    AND    SKINNER.  599 

Lieut.  WILLIAM  D'WoLF,  who  fell  in  the  battle  of  Williamsburg, 
Va.,  May  4,  1882,  and  died  on  the  2d  of  June  following,  was  one  of 
the  noble  young  men  the  State  has  given  to  the  Republic.  His 
father,  William  F.  D'Wolf,  is  a  well  known  citizen  of  Chicago. 
William  enlisted  May,  1861,  in  Co.  B,  1st  Regiment  Illinois  Light 
Artillery,  better  known  both  North  and  South  as  "  Taylor's  Battery." 
Early  in  the  field,  he  shared  the  fortunes  and  perils  of  his  battery 
in  the  hot  fights  of  Frederickton,  Belmont  and  Donelson.  In  the 
last  he  was  wounded.  He  served  with  his  battery  nearly  a  year, 
when,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct,  he  was  promoted  to  a 
Lieutenancy  in  the  regular  army,  in  the  3d  Regiment  of  Artillery. 
General  Me Clellan  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Secretary  of  War  request 
ing  his  promotion.  On  the  4th  of  April,  1 862,  he  joined  his  regiment 
In  the  battle  of  Williamsburg  he  manifested  the  utmost  bravery.  A 
shell  exploded  under  his  horse,  killing  it  and  wounding  the  Lieuten 
ant  in  the  thigh.  He  caught  a  loose  horse  and  went  forward  with 
his  battery.  He  meant  to  stand  by  his  guns.  He  was  again  wounded, 
this  time  in  the  knee  of  the  other  leg,  but  remained  with  the  battery 
until  it  was  withdrawn.  He  was  conveyed  to  Fortress  Monroe,  and 
thence  to  Washington  City,  where,  in  the  home  of  the  patriotic  rep 
resentative  from  the  Chicago  district,  Hon.  I.  N.  Arnold,  he  received 
every  possible  attention,  but  sunk  under  his  wounds,  and,  with  his 
mother  beside  him,  expired  on  the  2d  of  June. 

Col.  Tristam  Burges,  General  Stoneman's  aid,  reported  that  he 
saw  the  young  officer  through  the  whole  fight,  and  that  he  acted  like 
a  veteran.  Says  Captain  Gibson,  who  commanded  the  battery : 

u  One  of  my  subalterns,  a  handsome,  gallant  boy  from  Chicago,  named  D'Wolf, 
was  wounded,  and,  I  regret  to  say,  has  since  died.  I  was  much  attached  to  him, 
and  if  your  friends  know  his  family,  please  assure  them  of  my  sincere  sympathy 
with  them  in  the  bereavement  and  my  high  appreciation  of  his  coolness  and  gal 
lantry  in  the  midst  of  no  ordinary  danger.  Poor  fellow !  He  joined  my  battery  on 
the  4th  of  April,  was  wounded  on  the  4th  of  May,  and  on  the  4th  of  June  was  dead." 

His  remains  were  brought  to  Chicago,  and  an  eloquent  oration 
delivered  in  St.  James'  Church  (Protestant  Episcopal)  by  the  Rector, 
Dr.  Clarkson,  whence  his  remains  were  followed  to  the  grave  by  a 
vast  concourse. 

Lieut.  RICHARD  SKINNER,  of  the  10th  infantry,  regular  army,  was 


600  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

another  costly  sacrifice.  His  great-grandsire,  General  Timothy  Skin 
ner,  was  a  subaltern  officer  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  His  grand 
father,  Judge  Richard  Skinner,  was  member  of  Congress  from  Ver 
mont  during  the  last  war  with  England,  then  Chief  Justice,  then 
Governor,  then  declining  a  re-election,  was  again  placed  upon  the 
bench  as  Supreme  Justice,  where  he  remained  until  within  a  short 
time  of  his  death,  when  he  resigned  the  place. 

His  father,  Hon.  Mark  Skinner,  of  Chicago,  is  an  eminent  and  patri 
otic  citizen,  formerly  Judge  of  the  Court.  He  was  the  first  President 
of  the  Northwestern  Sanitary  Commission,  giving  it  his  time  and 
labor  until  compelled,  by  shattered  health,  to  resign.  Much  of  its 
efficiency  was  due  to  his  wise  supervision. 

His  only  son,  after  an  academic  training,  entered  Yule  College  and 
graduated.  He  had  a  fine  literary  taste  and  wrote  in  an  accomplished 
style.  With  unblemished  reputation,  native  endowments  of  high 
order,  thorough  culture,  and  a  fine  physique,  he  had  a  brilliant  future 
before  him.  All  was  laid  upon  his  country's  altar. 

He  received  the  appointment  of  2d  Lieutenant  in  the  10th  U.  S.  A., 
and  was  ordered  to  report  to  Major-General  Hunter,  and  became  a 
member  of  his  staff,  discharging  the  duty  of  commissary  of  musketeers, 
and  redlining  with  him  during  his  command  in  South  Carolina. 

Subsequently  he  was  ordered  to  report  to  Brigadier- General  B.  S. 
Roberts,  then  in  command  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  whom  he  accompa 
nied  to  New  Orleans  and  thence  to  Pass  Caballa  and  Matagorda 
Island,  where  the  General  was  post  commandant.  He  was  duly  pro 
moted  1st  Lieutenant,  and  was  about  attaining  a  captaincy,  when  he 
was  ordered  to  join  his  regiment  in  front  of  Petersburg.  He  went  to 
it  gladly,  but  found  it  reduced  to  a  hundred  men,  under  the  senior 
Lieutenant,  and  at  that  time  on  picket  duty.  He  arrived  on  Sunday, 
June  19,  1864.  On  Monday  he  was  in  the  trenches.  On  Tuesday 
morning,  while  conversing  with  a  group  of  officers,  he  was  struck  b}' 
a  ball,  mortally  wounded,  and  died  on  Wednesday.  He  had  won  the 
confidence  and  high  esteem  of  the  general  officers  whom  he  had 
served.  An  only  son — such  is  one  of  the  many  costly  offerings 
made  for  the  government !  His  honored  father  said,  sadly,  "We 
had  only  him,  and  we  gave  him :  he  had  only  his  life  and  he  freely 
gave  it!" 


GABRIEL    B.    DURHAM.  601 

Let  this  chapter  close  with  brief  mention  of  a  young  man  who 
wore  no  ensignia  of  rank — a  brave  lad,  a  fine  newspaper  corres- 
poudentf  a  Christian  young  man — GABRIEL  B.  DURHAM,  son  of  Pleas 
ant  Durham,  of  Kankakee  City.  He  enlisted  in  Barker's  Dragoons, 
and  with  his  company  entered  the  12th  Cavalry.  In  that  obstinate 
resistance  made  by  Buford's  cavalry  to  the  enemy  at  Gettysburg,  he, 
with  others,  was  dismounted.  Placing  a  rail  for  rest  and  barricade, 
he  fired  his  twenty  rounds  and  started  for  a  fresh  supply.  While 
passing  to  the  rear,  he  was  struck  by  a  fragment  of  shell  and 
mortally  wounded.  He  was  placed  in  the  Calvary  Hospital  and 
lingered  until  the  23d  July,  when  he  died.  He  knew  he  must  die, 
but  bravely,  nobly  said,  "  I  have  only  done  my  duty.  If  I  had  other 
lives  I  would  give  them  to  save  my  country."  The  Lieutenant- 
General  could  utter  no  grander  words.  The  body  was  embalmed 
and  brought  home  and  buried  from  the  Methodist  Church. 

"  So  sleep  the  dead  who  sink  to  rest 
With  all  their  country's  wishes  blest." 


CHAPTER    XXXV. 

THE   ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 

ITS  APPEARANCE — ITS  OCCUPANTS — ITS  CONTENTS — MATHER — WYMAN — GRANT — LOOM- 
IS — ADJUTANT-GENERAL  FULLER — BIOGRAPHY — JUDGE— ADJUTANT — GOVERNOR  YATES 
TESTIMONY — SPEAKER — RESOLUTION  OF  HOUSE — ECONOMY. 

IN  the  dingy  capitol  at  Springfield,  is  the  Adjutant-General's  office, 
where  are  documents  which  will  be  searched  in  days  to  come,  by 
the  historian,  the  annalist,  the  lawyer. 

Entering  a  room  about  forty  feet  square,  you  see  double  rows  of 
desks,  and  peering  above  each  is  a  head  variously  colored.  The 
clerks  are  hard  at  work  preserving  the  facts  of  our  Illinois  regiments, 
In  those  pigeon  holes  are  documents  which  in  curt  official  style  tell 
of  many  a  deed  of  daring,  and  many  a  weary  march.  In  the  casu 
alty  reports  are  enshrined  the  names  of  those  who  have  received 
wounds  or  died  the  soldier's  death  on  the  field ! 

These  "Descriptive  Rolls"  tell  you  the  place  and  date  of  birth, 
place  and  date  of  enlistment,  hight  in  feet  and  inch  s,  color 
of  hair  and  eyes  of  each  soldier.  They  state  when  enlisted,  when 
discharged,  and  when  completed,  will  tell  the  story  of  wounds  and 
death.  We  doubt  if  any  office  is  more  exact  in  the  arrangement  of 
these  details.  The  best  models — American,  English  and  Continental 
were  consulted,  and  a  combined  system  adopted,  covering  all  the 
details. 

At  the  commencement  of  hostilities,  Thos.  T.  Mather,  was  Adju 
tant-General.  General  Wyman  was  detailed  for  a  time,  and  then 
one  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  a  retired  Captain  of  the  regular  army.  His 
military  information,  both  in  extent  and  detail  astonished  all.  Did 


COLONEL   J.  8.  LOOMI8.  60S 

any  one  ask  about  a  Springfield  musket,  a  Belgian  rifle  or  any  other 
:«r  u,  lie  would  quietly  rest  a  moment  and  state  the  number  of  pieces 
it  Contained,  how  they  are  put  together,  and  the  advantages  and 
'l-'i'vvbayks  of  each.  He  could  enlighten  a  bewildered  quartermast 
er  ')-i  the  mysteries  of  rations,  how  many  pounds  the  soldiers  would 
h  -vo  to  carry  if  rations  of  one  Imid  were  given,  and  how  much  if 
M  '  >ther,  and  then  what  constituentlFeaeh  ration  contained,  and  in  what 
it  might  be  deficient.  Quietly  stood  the  retired  captain  solving  the 
pu^les  of  men  with  eagles  and  stars.  His  suggestions  were  invalu 
able. 

A  young  man,  J.  S.  Loomis,  had  enlisted.  He  was  judged  to 
have  rare  qualifications  for  the  duties  of  the  adjutant's  office,  and  he 
remained  in  it  until  near  the  close  of  Governor  Yates'  administra 
tion,  having  received  the  rank  of  Colonel.  Pie  rendered  valu 
able  service  in  the  office,  entering  upon  its  duties  con  amore,  search 
ing  the  most  minute  details,  and  generalizing  admirably. 

In  his  last  message,  Governor  Yates  thus  alludes  to  him  : 

"In  March,  1864,1  sent  Col.  John  S.  Loomis,  who  had  been  connected  with  the 
State  Department  from  the  commencement  of  the  war — first  as  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General,  and  recently,  as  my  principal  aid-de-camp — to  Washington,  with  instruc 
tions  to  urge  final  adjustment  of  all  our  accounts.  His  extensive  acquaintance  with 
the  origin  and  history  of  our  military  organization  and  contracting  and  settlement 
of  war  claims,  enabled  him  to  make  full  explanation  of  our  vouchers,  and  prosecute 
appeals  from  what  was  considered  erroneous  decisions  of  adjusting  officers  of  the 
treasury,  in  disallowing  and  suspending  a  part  of  our  claims.  He  was  accompanied 
by  Gen.  John  Wood,  Quartermaster-General  of  the  State,  whose  services  were  re 
quired  to  aid  settlement  of  the  class  of  claims  originating  in  his  department. 
From  the  report  of  Col.  Loomis,  and  copies  of  his  appeals  on  suspended  and  disal 
lowed  accounts,  herewith  transmitted,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  claims  of  the  State 
against  the  government,  filed  in  the  Treasury  Department,  for  war  expenses, 
amounted  to  three  millions  eight  hundred  and  twelve  thousand  five  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars  and  fifty-four  cents  (3,812,525.54);  of  which  amount  there  has 
been  allowed,  on  various  settlements  with  the  Third  Auditor,  three  millions  seven 
hundred  and  twenty-six  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-two  dollars  and  eighty- 
seven  cents  ($3,  7^6,792.87);  leaving  a  difference  between  the  claims  and  allow 
ances,  in  that  department,  of  eighty-five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty-two 
dollars  and  sixty-seven  cents(^85,732.67);  suspended  and  disallowed,  because,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  said  Auditor  the  law  did  not  sufficiently  provide  for  them.  Of  the 
amount  allowed  by  the  Third  Auditor,  and  passed  to  the  Second  Comptroller  of  the 
Treasury,  it  will  also  be  seen,  that  the  Comptroller  suspended  nearly  all  of  our 


604:  PATRIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

State  claims  upon  ground  of  insufficiency  of  vouchers,  but  which  decision,  upon  the 
appeal  of  Col.  Loomis,  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  reversed,  and  ordered  a  set 
tlement  of  the  accounts.  An  appeal  was  also  taken  upon  the  suspension  and  dis- 
allowraent  of  accounts  in  the  Third  Auditor's  office  ($85,732.67),  which  is  set  forth 
in  the  report. 

"  I  am  recently  advised,  by  letter  from  the  Treasury  Department,  that  upon  last 
settlement  there  was  found  to  be  due  the  State  four  hundred  and  sixty-eight  thou 
sand  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  dollarJRind  ninety-eight  cents  ($468,265.98),  and 
that  the  amount  of  suspensions  and  disallowances  has  been  reduced  to  twenty- 
seven  thousand  three  hundred  and  ninety  dollars  and  seventy-four  cents  ($27,390.71.) 

k' Thirty  thousand  dollars  have  recently  been  paid  by  the  government  on  the  bal 
ance  found  due  on  our  accounts ;  which  sum  is  sufficient  to  pay  off  all  warrants 
drawn  upon  the  State  Treasury  against  the  war  fund. 

"In  this  connection,  I  desire  to  call  your  attention  specially  to  the  report  of  Col. 
Loomis.  It  gives  a  complete  history  of  a  necessity  for  all  expenses  incurred  by  the 
State  for  the  general  government,  and,  in  my  opinion,  clearly  establishes  the  right 
of  the  State  to  the  reimbursement  of  every  dollar  we  have  advanced,  and  which  yet 
remains  suspended.  Colonel  Loomis'  labors  in  the  adjustment  of  our  war  accounts 
have  been  invaluable,,  and  it  is  recommended  that  a  sufficient  appropriation  be  made 
for  his  services  and  expenses." 

But  the  name  of  Allen  C.  Fuller  has  been  iriore  frequently  men 
tioned  in  State  military  matters  than  that  of  any  other  man  beside 
Governor  Yates.  He  came  to  Belvidere  in  1846,  a  young  lawyer, 
without  means,  without  patronage,  with  nothing  upon  which  to  de 
pend,  but  industry,  integrity  and  capacity.  He  soon  built  up  a 
lucrative  practice,  and  by  sympathy  with  and  participation  in  public 
interests,  he  became  a  leading  and  influential  man  in  Northern  Illi 
nois.  He  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  the  duties  of 
which  high  office  he  discharged  with  much  ability.  He  was  upon 
the  bench  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  was  tendered  the  position  of 
Adjutant-General.  The  members  of  the  bar  objected  to  his  resig 
nation,  and  urged  him  to  accept  temporarily  the  appointment.  He 
accordingly  entered  upon  its  duties  November  11,  1861,  and  in  July 
following  resigned  his  seat  on  the  bench.  That  he  has  faithfully 
performed  its  laborious  duties,  has  been  attested  by  the  Legislature 
and  Governor. 

The  House  of  Representatives  at  its  last  session  unanimously 
adopted  a  report  of  its  committee  appointed  to  inspect  the  Adjutant- 
General's  office,  and  from  which  report  we  extract  the  following : 

"That  we  have  thoroughly  examined  the  office  of  the  Adjutant-General  and  find 


ADJUTANT-GENERAL  ALLEN  C.  FULLEK.          605 

it  a  model  in  completeness;  one  that  preserves  in  all  its  glory  the  proud  records  of 
our  soldiery,  and  reflects  infinite  credit  upon  the  great  State  whose  sons  they  are. 

"That  in  the  judgment  of  this  committee,  the  thanks  of  every  patriot  citizen  of 
the  State  are  due  to  Gen.  Fuller  for  the  able  and  efficient  manner  in  which  he  has 
discharged  the  duties  of  the  office,  and  for  his  indefatigable  efforts  in  collecting  and 
preserving  this  glorious  record  of  a  glorious  State." 

Governor  Yates,  in  his  last  message  of  1863,  says  :  "I  refer  you 
to  the  report  of  the  Adjutant- General,  to  whose  untiring  labors,  and 
able  and  faithful  co-operation  I  acknowledge  myself  deeply  indebted, 
and  in  the  management  of  the  military  affairs  of  the  State.''  In  his 
last  message,  after  regretting  that  the  Adjutant-General's  serious  ill 
ness  in  November  and  December,  1864,  had  prevented  the  prepara- 
of  his  biennial  report,  the  Governor  says :  "  I  have  also  inspected 
the  Adjutant-General's  Office,  and  deem  it  proper  to  say  that  it  is 
as  complete  in  all  its  arrangements,  and  in  the  perfection  of  its  sys 
tem  and  method,  as  any  similar  office  in  the  United  States.  Gener 
al  Fuller  has  been  a  most  able,  faithful  and  energetic  officer,  and  is 
entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  the  State." 

These  official  "  well  dones  "  are  echoed  by  the  officers  and  boys  in 
blue.  They  have  recognized  in  the  General  a  true  and  competent 
friend.  In  1864,  the  leading  Republican  journals  of  the  northern 
part  of  the  State  and  some  from  the  Central  and  Southern  advocated 
his  nomination  as  the  successor  of  Governor  Yates,  but  the  choice 
fell  upon  the  brave  General  Oglesby. 

,  He  was  elected  to  represent  Boone  County  in  the  General  Assem 
bly,  and  on  the  1st  of  January  resigned  the  position  of  Adjutant- 
General,  and  was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives- 
Before  adjournment,  that  body  by  unanimous  vote,  adopted  the  fol. 
lowing: 

"Resolved,  That  we  tender  our  heartfelt  thanks  to  Hon.  Allen  C.  Fuller,  our  pre 
siding  officer,  for  the  kind,  courteous,  able  and  impartial  manner  in  which  he  has 
presided  over  us,  and  as  such  recognize  in  his  general  bearing  and  demeanor  the 
perfect  model  of  a  gentleman." 

The  Adjutant's  office  has  been  most  economically  managed.  In 
deed  it  may  be  doubted,  if  in  any  other  department  of  State  service 
so  much  labor  has  been  performed  for  so  slight  a  remuneration.  In 
his  report  of  1861-2,  General  Fuller  says  : 

"Under  the  law  of  May  2,  1861,  the  salary  of  the  Adjutant-General   is  fixed  at 


606  PATIOTISM    OF    ILLINOIS. 

seven  dollars,  tlie  first  assistant  at  six,  and  second  assistant  at  five  dollars  per  day. 
No  express  authority  was  given  the  Adjutant-General  to  employ  clerks,  but  the 
law  authorized  you  to  employ  such  clerks,  aids  and  messengers  as  the  public  inter 
ests  might  require,  and  allow  them  such  reasonable  compensation  as  in  your  judg 
ment  they  should  be  entitled  to. 

"When  I  took  possession  of  the  office,  November  11,  1861,  three  clerks  and  a 
messenger  boy  were  employed,  beside  the  Adjutant-General  and  his  assistants.  No 
injustice  is  done  in  saying  that  such  had  been  the  pressure  of  business  upon  the  office 
that  its  affairs  were  very  much  behind  hand.  There  were  but  few  rolls  on  file  and 
few  permanent  records. 

"Notwithstanding  the  great  increase  of  business,  I  have  endeavored  to  keep  the 
expenses  of  the  office  to  the  very  lowest  possible  figure,  and  in  this  I  have  had  the 
generous  co-operatior  of  my  assistants  and  clerks.  The  average  number  of  hours 
which  they  have  actually  labored  is  not  less  than  sixteen  out  of  twenty-four.  Un 
der  your  direction  they  have  been  employed,  and  the  average  compensation  has 
been  a  little  less  than  three  dollars  per  day.  But  it  will  be  seen,  by  schedule  F,  that 
one  hundred  and  sixty-one  days  have  not  been  charged  by  both  assistants,  and  their 
places  to  that  extent  have  been  supplied  by  these  clerks. 

"It  wi.l  also  be  seen  that  the  number  of  days'  service  performed  by  clerks  from 
April  16,  1861,  to  January  1,  1863,  is  1,779,  at  a  compensation  of  $5,261.  The  total 
amount  of  salaries  and  clerk-hire  during  this  period  is  $14,548.  The  total  amount 
allowed  to  the  Adjutant-General  and  his  two  assistants,  by  law,  for  the  same  period, 
is  $11,230,  leaving  $2,743  (beside  one  d  >ll.ir  a  day  for  messenger  boy),  for  clerk- 
hire,  or  at  the  rate  of  $2.20  per  day  for  two  clerks.  This  is  explained  by  the  addi 
tional  fact  that  in  my  salary  from  November  1 1,  1861,  to  January  1,  1863,  being  416 
days,  would  amount  to  $2,912,  whereas  but  $1,288,  or  pay  from  the  first  of  July  last 
is  charged.  The  reason  for  this  deduction  is  that  until  July  last  I  held  the  office  of 
Circuit  Judge  of  the  13th  Judicial  Circuit,  and  I  have  not  felt  at  liberty  to  draw 
salaries  for  two  offices. 

"I  trust  I  have  kept  the  expenses  of  the  department,  considering  the  amount  oi 
labor  performed,  within  proper  limits.  The  extent  of  that  labor  few  can  know  aa 
well  as  those  who  have  performed  it. 

The  General  has  sustained  to  the  boys  in  blue  a  sort  of  paternal 
relation,  and  will  ever  meet  from  them  a  cordial  welcome.  The 
reader  will  find  copious  extracts. 

As  the  writer  was  dependent  upon  the  reports  and  archives  of  the 
Adjutant- General' s   office  for  much  of  the  material  woven  into  the  * 
preceding  chapters,  he  has  thought  proper  to  introduce  the  reader 
into  the  same  office. 

General  Fuller's  successor  is  Brigadier-General  Isham  N.  Haynic, 
formerly  Colonel  of  the  Forty-eighth,  of  whom  more  anon. 


APPENDIX. 


607 


TABULAR  STA  /  : \\1KN T— Showing  the  Population,  Enroflnicnt,  Total  Quotax,  Credits^ 
Deficits  and  Excess  of  each  County  in  the  State,  July  1,  1864. 


Nf*E        Population 
COUNTIES 

FIRST  AN! 

JLASS    ENB 

1863. 

>  SECOND 
OILMEN  T. 

QUOTAS. 

Credits.    Deficits. 

Excess. 

1864. 

TI-.  Total. 

Ad  mis.  ...    . 
Alexander   . 
Boid  
Bocme  .  . 
Brown  

41,144 
4,652 

0,767 
11,670 
<.',<>  19 
20,415 
5,143 
]  i  718 
!  i.813 
4,681 
10,4*6 
14,948 
9,809 
P.,  729 
14,174 
14:1,947 
11,527 
8,309 
hi,o79 
10,814 
7,109 
14,696 
«  0,888 
5,379 
7,805 
11,146 
1,979 
9,367 
33.289 
7,629 
16,067 
10,372 
9,849 
29,041 
3,704 
9,499 
20,658 
12,285 
9,560 
8,350 
12,931 
11,942 
'7,147 
9,80*1 
U>24 
1  o,393 
13,078 
28,512 
V24.S 
18,475 
8,971 
17,642 

7,049 
2,221 
1,465 
1,600 
1,311 
4,533 
952 
2,109 
1,610 
2,776 
2,155 
1,886 
1,365 
2,056 
2,773 
33,471 
1,561 
903 
3,150 
1,604 
1,481 
1,300 
2,671 
747 
1,302 
1,956 
491 
1,214 
4,169 
1,065 
2,271 
1,794 
1,226 
4,440 
472 
1,746 
3,933 
2,204 
1,586 
975 
1,812 
1,801 
2,283 
1,219 
4,530 
2,353 
1,959 
4,576 
2,391 
8,333 
1,193 
3,235 

8,475 
2,942 
1,803 
1,646 
1,558 
5,233 
1,175 
2,172 
2,073 
3,061 
2,512 
2,029 
1,444 
2,372 
3,203 
38,262 
1,624 
985 
3,269 
1,947 
1,803 
2,188 
3,605 
728 
1,760 
2,020 
607 
1,363 
4,967 
1,191 
2,726 
1,984 
1,323 
5,280 
561 
1,998 
4,624 
2,458 
1,797 
998 
1,845 
2,324 
3,709 
1,314 
4,962 
2,57,r 
2,921 
5,212 
2,592 
9,992 
1,443 
3,493 

4,853 
1,178 
1,972 
1,168 
0,066 
3,089 
640 
1,368 
1,221 
,792 
,372 
,448 
971 
,340 
,793 
20,305 
1,149 
749 
2,120 
1,175 
952 
1,329 
1,962 
536 
937 
1,282 
300 
929 
3,285 
786 
1,694 
1,204 
947 
3,195 
369 
1,153 
2,583 
1,46< 
1,088 
770 
1,307 
1,355 
2,589 
919 
3,212 
1,659 

1   3*74 

3,695 
1,279 

9701 
947 
1,046 

2/284 
319 
962 
989 
2,011 
977 
1,144 
1,311 
974 
2,636 
16,177 
1,008 
864 
1,888 
1,453 
966 
1,207 
1,812 
497 
1,189 
1,357 
140 
1,199 
3,012 
1,325 
1,568 
1,030 
1,207 
2,44. 
539 
1,053 
2,481 
1,485 
1,361 
817 
933 
846 
1,812 
1,412 
3,561 
1,484 
1,241 
3,229 
1,381 
4,59f 
1  007 

1,158 

"ioi 

102 
221 

40 

Bureau.  . 

802 
321 
406 
23k> 

Uaiuoun.  .  . 
Carroll  
Cass      



Champaign  .  . 
Christian.  .":". 
Cl-u-k 

219 

395 

304 

366 

Clay 

340 

Clinton  ...    . 
Co'.es  

843 

Cook    

4,128 
646 

Crawford  .  .  .  .' 
Cumberland  . 
DeKalb    ...-.- 
DeWitt    .... 
Douglas  
Dul'age  .  . 
Ed°-ar 

115 

232 

278 
14 

122 
150 

39 

Edwards  .... 
Effiugham  .  .  . 
Favette  
Ford  
Franklin  
Fulton 

152 
75 

160 
273 

270 

Ga.  latin  
Green  
Grundv     .... 

539 

126 
174 

Hamilton.  .  .  . 
Hancock    .  .  . 

260 

755 

"ioo 

102 

Hardin  

170 

Henderson   .  . 

Iroquols  
Jackson  

25 

273 
47 

Jefferson  .... 

374 

509 

777 

JoDav:ess  .  .  . 
Johnson  
K-me 

498 
349 

Konkakee  .  .  . 
Kendall  

TTTU,y 

175 

133 

3,19( 
1,805 

5,7ir 

918 

2,107 

39 

r  ' 
m 

Lake  ...... 
LvSalle  
Lawrence 
Lee  

424 

1,125 

1,848 

259'  

608 


APPENDIX. 
TABULAR  STATEMENT— CONTINUED. 


NAME 

OF 

COUNTIES. 

Copulation 
in  1860. 

FIRST  AND  SECOND 
CLASS    ENROLLMENT. 

QUOTAS. 

Credits. 

Deficits. 

Excess. 

1863. 

1864. 

Gr.  Total. 

Livingston  .  . 
jjQo-an 

11,632 
14,247 
13,655 
24,504 
30,689 
12,730 
13,437 
10,929 
6,101 
20,061 
22,085 
28,580 
9,577 
15,037 
12,815 
13,881 
21,937 
6,384 
22,863 
36,475 
9,508 
6,124 
27,182 
6,546 
3,904 
5,579 
16,766 
9,709 
20,981 
9,161 
31,963 
14,670 
9,047 
14,590 
9,008 
37,169 
25,112 
21,427 
11,145 
19,779 
7,233 
18,293 
13,725 
12,222 
12,274 
18,729 

on  of?4 

2,307 
2,377 
2,504 
4,219 
6,951 
2,051 
2,165 
1  529 

2,922 
2,870 
3,245 
5,093 
8,598 
2,454 
2,866 
1,695 
1,236 
3,458 
3,194 
7,229 
1,715 
2,325 
3,509 
2,976 
3,935 
970 
3,815 
7,828 
1,554 
1,136 
3,961 
1,249 
1,543 
1,006 
3,301 
1,483 
3,540 
1,261 
7,989 
2,054 
1,739 
3,678 
1,602 
8,959 
4,285 
4,281 
1,948 
3,669 
910 
3,627 
2,682 
1,517 
1,616 
3,328 
5,338 
1,620 
4  524 

1,524 
1,655 
1,715 
2,902 
4,355 
1,446 
1,570 
1125 
698 
2,212 
2,243 
3,770 
1,037 
1,540 
1,826 
1,709 
2,381 
665 
2,509 
4,348 
1,034 
700 
2,687 
772 
647 
626 
1,925 
1,025 
2,220 
904 
4,158 
1,430 
1,028 
1,917 
964 

1,310 
2,056 
1,791 
2,314 
2,728 
1,782 
1,141 
1,506 
843 
2,171 
1,967 
3,610 
928 
1,657 
736 
1,203 
2,302 
579 
2,326 
3,791 
1  433 

214 

401 

76 

Macon  

Macoupin  .  .  . 
Madison  .  ... 

588 
1,627 

Marion  
Marshall  .... 

336 

429 

381 
145 

Massac  
McDonough  .  . 
McHenry  .... 
McLean  

965 
3,221 
3,117 
5,741 
1,403 
2,075 
2,987 
2,617 
3,248 
951 
3,709 
6,238 
518 
1,033 
3,492 
1,192 
986 
916 
2,743 
1,492 
3,007 
1,216 
6,226 
1,854 
1,460 
2,910 
1,284 
7,159 
3,998 
3,598 
1,501 
3,306 
987 
3,041 
2,341 
1,448 
1  611 

41 
276 
160 
109 

Menard 

Mercer  

117 

Monroe 

1,090 
606 
79 
86 
183 
557 

Montgomery  • 
Morgan  
Moultrie  . 



(Vie  .  . 

Pcoria 

Perry  

399 
344 
71 
435 

Piatt 

1,044 
2,758 
1,207 
552 
449 
1,735 
1,485 
1,953 
1,256 
4,451 
1,429 
1,070 
1,606 
810 
2,778 
2,476 
1,787 
1,819 
2,115 
601 
1,988 
1,451 
1  575 

Pike  ...  . 

Pope  

Pulaski  .    ,  . 
Putnam  

95 

177 
190 

Randolph  .  .  . 
Richland 
Rock  Island.  . 
Saline  .  .      . 

460 

267 

352 
293 

Sangamon  .  .  . 
Schuyler  .  .  .  . 
Seott"  

1 

42 

Shelby 

811 
154 

1,987 
279 

Stark  

St.  Clair  

4,765 
2,755 
2,506 
1,168 
2,251 
695 
2,115 
1,594 
1,140 
1  194 

Stephenson.  . 
Tazewell 
Union  

719 

651 

Vermillion  .  . 
Wabash  
Warren  
Washington.  . 
Wayne  
White  
Whiteside... 

Will 

136 
94 
177 
143 

435 

769 

1  963 

3,224 
5,746 
1,498 
4,072 
2,419 

2,129 
3,509 
1,161 

2,778 
1,616 

1,860 
2,957 
l,56f 
2,409 
1  ,047 

269 

Williamson.  . 
Winnebago.  . 
Woodford  .  .  . 

Total  

12,087 
24,457 
13,281 

404 

369 
569 

2,842 

1,704,323 

287,941 

333,518 

197,?>6f 

181,178 

27,02l!      10,842 

